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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



EXPRESS PRINTING COMPANY 
CONNERSVILLE INDIANA 




I'LYSSES lU'TTEllS 





JOHN F. BUTTERS 




THOMAS W. PIKE 



CHAS. E. PALMER 



A HISTORY 

OF 

SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S 

PART IN THE WORLD 

WAR 



By Earl S. Brown 



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COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY EARL S. BROWN 
PUBLISHED AUGUST, 1919 



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FOREWORD 

In publishing this history of Switzerland county's part in the World War it 
is not the intention of the writer to attempt to give to the public a history of 
the World War itself, but to portray the valiant deeds of our gallant soldiers and 
to tell of the patriotic things accomplished by citizens who remained at home. 

The first chapter is devoted to the starting of the war and the causes which 
led the United States into it. In the other chapters it has been our sole aim to 
record, accurately and briefly, the things Switzerland county's patriotic citizens 
did to help win the war. 

As soon as war was declared and the first of Switzerland county's gallant 
sons began volunteering for service, a record of all local war activities was kept 
with a view of compiling them later in book form. Because of many men and 
boys in various parts of the county going to different cities to volunteer it was 
almost impossible to obtain a correct list of the men who entered the service 
and there may be a few names omitted in the list published in this book. How- 
ever, the reader is assured that if there are omissions they are unintentional. 
Efforts were also made to secure photographs of all enlisted men. This was im- 
possible, but all the photographs secured are reproduced in this volume. 

We feel that the citizens of Switzerland county are herewith given a record 
of the wonderful things they accomplished that should live forever. Without 
further apology we leave you to judge. 

Vevay, Indiana, August 15, 1919 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Chapter I. Causes Which Led United States Into the War 9 

Chapter II. The Beginning and the End 15 

Chapter III. Our Heroic Dead 17 

Chapter IV. The County's Wounded 24 

Chapter V. Gems of Patriotism 27 

Chapter \'I. The Conscription Board 32 

Chapter VII. The Red Cross Chapter and Its Fourteen Auxiliaries.... 35 

Chapter VIII. The War Chest Orgaization 40 

Chapter IX. The Food Administration 43 

Chapter X. The County Council of Defense 48 

Chapter XI. The Fuel Administration 50 

Chapter XII. The Five Liberty Loan Drives 53 

Chapter XIII. Women's Work in the Liberty Loans 57 

Chapter XIV. War Savings Stamps 60 

Chapter XV. The Women's War Census 63 

Chapter XVI. The Sammy Pen Club 66 

Chapter X\'II. The Boys' Working Reserve 69 

Chapter XMII. Soldier Poetry 71 

Chapter XIX. Switzerland County's Roll of Honor 73 

Chapter XX. Amick Brothers Fight Side By Side 79 

Chapter XXI. John F. Butters on Eleven Battle Fronts 81 

Chapter XXII. Uly Butters Fights With British 88 

Chapter XXIII. Howard P. Burton Returns From the Dead 90 

Chapter XXIV. Leslie Byram Saved by German Prisoners 94 

Chapter XXV. Ermon Brown Captures German Captain and 

Ten Privates 97 



Page 

Chapter XXVI. William Bowen Rams Bayonet Through Boche 103 

Chapter XXVII. Lawrence E. Chandler in Five Engagements 105 

Chapter XXVIII. D. W. Dodd on Torpedoed Ship 107 

Chapter XXIX. Allen Day on Trail of the Boche 109 

Chapter XXX. James Grammer Oakley Saved by Red Cross Workers. 110 

Chapter XXXI. J. Kirby Danglade Serves With French Army Ill 

Chapter XXXII. Halstead Ferguson Goes Through Battle 

Bareheaded 114 

Chapter XXXIII. Walter Green Wounded Twice 115 

Chapter XXXIV. Vere Graham Sleeps With Dead Frenchman 118 

Chapter XXXV. Hubert Hamilton With British in Belgium 121 

Chapter XXXVI. Sam Huff Serves With Medical Corps 123 

Chapter XXXVII. Joe Hollcraft Sees Brutality of Huns 125 

Chapter XXXVIII. Ernest Lackland In Hospital Bombed by Huns... 128 

Chapter XXXIX. Frank Pelsor in Great British Offensive 131 

Chapter XL. George Piatt Shot Through Body While in the Argonne.. 133 

Chapter XLI. Clifford Thiebaud Fights With Rainbow Division 139 

Chapter XLII. Marion Williamson Fights Sixty Hours Without 

Water 140 

1776-1919 142 




KKXVER .v.- CLARENCE CHASE 






BERNARD R. CARVER 




GEOKGE PLATT 



HARRY F. SHA1M'A\ 



Chapter I 
CAUSES WHICH LED UNITED STATES INTO THE WAR 

When Switzerland county citizens read in the daily papers of the assassina- 
tion of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, on 
June 28, 1914, they paid but little more attention to the news than they would 
have done to an item pertaining to the accidental drowning of an unknown man 
in the Mississippi river. 

At that time they did not know that Germany had been secretly planning 
for forty years for a war to overthrow the world, and that the assassination of 
the Archduke and his wife would be seized upon by Germany as the opportunity 
to gain control of all the other nations of the earth. 

On July 28, 1914, Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia immedi- 
ately announced that she would stand by Serbia and ordered her troops mobilized. 
On August 1st Germany declared war on Russia, and on the same day France, 
knowing that Germany would soon declare war on her, began mobilizing troops. 
On August 2d Germany deamnded free passage through Belgium for her troops. 
On August 3d Germany declared war on France and France declared war on 
Germany. On the same date Belgium rejected Germany's demand and on the 
following day, August 4, 1914, Germany declared war on Belgium. On the same 
day England declared war on Germany. During the four years and three months 
that the war continued the following declarations of war were made: 

Austria against Belgium, August 28, 1914. 

Austria against Japan, August 27, 1914. 

Austria against Montenegro, August 9, 1914. 

Austria against Russia, August 6, 1914. 

Austria against Serbia, July 28, 1914. 

Belgium against Germany, August 4, 1914. 

Brazil against Germany, October 26, 1917. 

Bulgaria against Serbia, October 14, 1915. 

China against Austria, August 14, 1917. 

China against Germany, August 14, 1917. 

Costa Rica against Germany, May 23, 1918. 

Cuba against Germany, April 7, 1917. 

Cuba against Austria-Hungary, Dec. 16, 1917. 



10 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

France against Austria, August 13, 1914. 

France against Bulgaria, October 16, 1915. 

France against Germany, August 3, 1914. 

France against Turkey, November 5, 1914. 

Germany against Belgium, August 4, 1914. 

Germany against France, August 3, 1914. 

Germany against Portugal, March 9, 1916. 

Germany against Roumania, September 14, 1916. 

Germany against Russia, August 1, 1914. 

Great Britain against Austria, August 13, 1914. 

Great Britain against Bulgaria, October 15, 1915. 

Great Britain against Germany, August 4, 1914. 

Great Britain against Turkey, November 5, 1914. 

Greece against Bulgaria, November 28, 1916 (Provisional Government) 

Greece against Bulgaria, July 2, 1917 (Government of Alexander). 

Greece against Germany, November 28, 1916 (Provisional Government). 

Greece against Germany, July 2, 1917 (Government of Alexander). 

Guatemala against Germany and Austria-Hungary, April 22, 1918. 

Haiti against Germany, July 15, 1918. 

Honduras against Germany, July 19, 1918. 

Italy against Austria, May 24, 1915. 

Italy against Bulgaria, October 19, 1915. 

Italy against Germany, August 28, 1916. 

Italy against Turkey, August 21, 1915. 

Japan against Germany, August 23, 1914. 

Liberia against Germany, August 4, 1917. 

Montenegro against Austria, August 8, 1914. 

Montenegro against Germany, August 9, 1914. 

Nicaragua against Germany, May 24, 1918. 

Panama against Germany, April 7, 1917. 

Panama against Austria, December 10, 1917. 

Portugal against Germany, November 23, 1914. (Resolution passed author- 
izing military intervention as ally of England.) 

Portugal against Germany, May 19, 1915. (Military aid granted.) 

Roumania against Austria, August 27, 1916. (Allies of Austria also con- 
sidered it a declaration.) 

Russia against Germany, August 7, 1914. 
Russia against Bulgaria, October 19, 1915. 
Russia against Turkey, November 3, 1914. 



Causes which Led United States into the War ii 

San Marino against Austria, May 24, 1915- 

Serbia against Bulgaria, October 16, 1915. 

Serbia against Germany, August 6, 1914. 

Serbia against Turkey, December 2, 1914. 

Siam against Austria, July 22, 1917. 

Turkey against Allies, November 23, 1914. 

Turkey against Roumania, August 29, 1916. 

United States against Germany, April 6, 1917. 

United States against Austria-Hungary, December 7, 1917. 

The United States government did all in its power to keep out of the world 
conflict and on several occasions President Wilson endeavored to bring about 
peace between the warring nations. 

As early as 1915, however, it became evident that Germany had the United 
States infested with thousands of spies who, until the moment the United States 
declared war on Germany, concentrated their efforts on destroying grain elevators, 
arsenals, ammunition factories, and in spreading propaganda which would create 
sympathy for Germany among the citizens of the United States. 

The history of submarine operations of the Central Powers is one long 
record of outrages perpetrated on American citizens and American property; a 
succession of protests on the part of the government of the United States, headed 
by President Woodrow Wilson, and of assurances and promises made and later 
violated by the German and Austrian governments. 

More than two hundred Americans had gone to their deaths through this 
submarine warfare up to the time diplomatic relations were severed on February 
3, 1917. Most of the Americans lost were traveling on unarmed merchant ships 
and, under the practices of international law and humanity, believed themselves 
secure. The ships lost on which the Americans met death are only a fraction of 
the number sent to the bottom by torpedoes — most of them without warning. 

The first American of whom there is a record to lose his life in submarine 
attack was Leon T. Thresher, a passenger on the British steamship Falaba, bound 
from Liverpool for West Africa, which was torpedoed and sunk on March 27, 
1915, off Milford, England. The Falaba, after a hopeless attempt to escape, 
stopped, and while boats were being lowered and passengers were still aboard, 
the submarine drove a torpedo into her side and she went down in ten minutes. 
Of 242 persons, 136 were saved. The American was among the lost. 

The first American ship attacked was the Gulflight, an oil tank vessel, from 
Port Arthur, Texas, to Rouen, France, torpedoed without warning off the Scilly 
Islands on May 1, 1915. Two men jumped overboard and were drowned; her 
captain died of heart failure. The Gulflight did not sink and was towed to port 



12 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

by British patrols. Tlie gernian government acknowledged the attack as an 
accident, expressed its regrets and promised to pay damages. 

The next attack was one which shocked the civilized world and brought the 
LTnited States and Germany for the first time to the verge of war. It was the 
destruction of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915. Lhiarmed, with 1,257 passengers, 
of whom 159 were Americans, and a crew of 702, she was torpedoed without 
warning and sunk in 23 minutes off Old Head of Kinsale, as she was nearing 
Liverpool. In all, 1,198 lives were lost, of which 124 were Americans, many of 
them of national prominence. The case passed into diplomatic negotiations 
which never took final form. 

While the Lusitania case was still fresh in the public mind, a German sub- 
marine torpedoed another American ship — the Nebraskan — without warning, on 
May 25, 1915, south of Fastnct Rock. The Nebraskan owed her safety to her 
seaworthiness. She reached port damaged, under her own steam, and no one was 
injured. The German government again expressed its regret for a mistake and 
promised to pay damages. 

Twenty American negro muleteers on the Leyland steamship Armenian 
were killed on June 28, 1915, by shell fire and drowning when the Armenian 
failed to escape with her cargo of arm}- mules from a submersible near the Corn- 
wall coast. 

The next submarine attack in which Americans were endangered was un- 
successful, but only because the steamship Orduna, of the Cunard line, proved 
too speedy for her pursuer. After sending a torpedo just under the Orduna's 
stern, the submarine rained shells after the fleeing vessel without hitting her and 
then gave up the chase. Germany explained that the submarine commander 
had failed to observe his orders, and that more explicit instructions had been 
issued. 

Three Americans were endangered when the Russian steamship Leo was 
torpedoed without warning on her way from Philadelphia to Manchester, Eng- 
land, on July 9, 1915. 

On July 25, 1915, came the first destruction of an American ship by a sub- 
marine. It was the Leelanaw of New York, bound from Archangel to Belfast, 
with flax, which is contraband. She was caught northwest of the Orkney Islands. 
The Leelanaw, besides carrying contraband, attempted to escape. As a neutral 
ship her destruction was a doubtful right of any belligerent. She finally stopped, 
as the German submarine was firing at her, and then sent her papers over to the 
submersible by a small boat. 

On August 19, 1915, came the celebrated case of the Nicosian of the Leyland 
line, and the British patrol boat Baralong. The Nicosian, with mules from New 



Causes Which Led United States into the war 13 

Orleans to Avonmouth, was stopped by a submarine off the coast of Ireland, and 
her crew, including 36 Americans, took to the boats. While the submarine was 
making ready to destroy the Nicosian, the Baralong appeared and destroyed the 
submarine by gunfire, took on the Nicosian's crew and towed the ship to safety. 

The next crisis came on August 19, 1915, when the Arabic of the White Star 
Line, from Liverpool to New York, was torpedoed without warning near the 
Lusitania's grave and sunk in about ten minutes. Out of 375 passengers and 
crew 48 were lost. Thirty Americans were on board and all but two were saved. 
The German government contended the submarine commander thought the 
Arabic was about to ram him, and fired in self defense, but disavowed the act, 
expressed regret and gave additional assurances for the future safety of pas- 
senger ships. 

One American of the crew of the Hesperian of the Allan line was lost on 
September 4, 1915, when the ship returning to Liverpool from Montreal, was 
torpedoed and sunk without warning off the southern coast of Ireland. The 
German admiralty contended no German submarine was in that vicinity, but a 
piece of a German torpedo had been picked up on the Hesperian's deck. 

Austria's first submarine operations of consequence, and those which brought 
Germany's closest ally into the situation, began with the destruction of the Italian 
steamship Ancona, in the Mediterranean on November 7, 1915. With hundreds 
of passengers, many of them women and children from Naples to New York, 
the Ancona was chased and stopped by an Austrian submarine. Twelve Ameri- 
cans were on board and nine were lost. Italian official figures say 308 passengers 
were lost out of 507 on board. Some of the American survivors swore the Aus- 
trian submarine even shelled the lifeboats as the passengers were getting into 
them. 

On December 5, 1915, a submarine, presumably an Austrian, attacked the 
American oil steamship Petrolite off the coast of Tripoli. A sailor was injured 
by a shot into the Petrolite's engine room and the submarine continued firing 
after the Petrolite had swung broadside so the submarine commander could see 
her name painted on her side and the American flag flying between her masts. 
The submarine commander finally permitted the Petrolite to proceed after he 
had taken some of her stores. 

A new crisis, and the first suspicion that German submarines were operating 
in the Mediterranean, or that Austrian submarines were being manned by German 
officers and crews, was developed by the destruction of the British steamship 
Persia on December 30, 1915, southeast of Crete, while on her way to the Orient. 
Mr. McNeeley, American consul, on his way to his post at Aden, was among the 
335 passengers who lost their lives, of whom two or more were Americans. The 



14 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

wake of a torpedo was seen but no submarine was visible. Germany, Austria 
and Turkey denied responsibility. The L^nited States again made representations, 
and assurances were given for what Germany termed "cruiser warfare," which 
involved a promise not to sink any peaceful ships without warning or providing 
for the safety of those aboard. 

With the coming of winter and the chilling storms which sweep the North 
Sea, submarine warfare was transferred to the warmer waters of the Mediterranean 
and then finally was much restricted until the spring of lOlG. On Alarch 1 of 
that year the submarine campaign was resumed with renewed ruthlessness. 

The Patria of the French line, carrying no armament whatever, sailing from 
Naples to New York, was attacked without warning by a submarine north of 
Tunis. Passengers and crew saw the torpedo pass harmlessly under the Patria's 
stern and some saw a periscope. Tlie Patria put on full speed and escaped further 
attack, but had another narrow escape in the same way the next month. Ameri- 
cans were on board in both instances. 

With the renewal of the submarine campaign the destruction of ships some- 
times numbered as many as ten in one day. In every instance where American 
lives were taken, C^^rmany apologized and promised to see that such a thing did 
not occur again. 

On April 19, 1910, President Wilson publicly warned Germany not to pursue 
her submarine policy. On May S, 1910, the Cymric, White Star liner, was tor- 
pedoed off the Irish coast. On November 29, 1910, the Minnewaska, an Atlantic 
transport liner, was sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean. On January 31, 1917^ 
Germany announced her intention of sinking all vessels in the war zone around 
the British Isles, and on February 3, 1917, the United States severed diplomatic 
relations with Germany and Count \'on Bernstorff was handed his passports. 

During the month of February, 1917, the submarine unrestricted warfare 
resulted in the sinking of 134 vessels and a number of the persons killed and 
drowned were Americans. 

On March 18, 1917, the City of Memphis, Illinois and \'igilancia, three 
American ships, were torpedoed. 

On March 21, 1917, the American ship Healdton, bound from Philadelphia 
to Rotterdam, was sunk by a submarine without warning, and 21 men were lost. 

On April 1, 1917, the American armed ship Aztec was sunk in the submarine 
zone, and on April 5 the American steamer Missourian was sunk in the Medi- 
terranean. 

The United States declared war against Germany on April 0, 1917, and 
against Austria-Hungary, December 7, 1917. 



Chapter II 
THE BEGINNING AND THE END 

About seven o'clock on the night of April 6, 1917, word came fron Cincin- 
nati over the wires of the Ohio River Telephone Company that war against 
Germany had been declared. In ten minutes' time church bells, Court House 
bell and school bell were pealing forth the electrifying tidings and groups of men, 
congregated on the corners, were discussing the news. 

The crisis in American and German relations had been reached several days 
previous. War was inevitable. Throughout the United States men and boys 
had been swarming to the recruiting offices to offer their services to our country. 
Patriotism was at a high pitch. Governors of states had called upon citizens to 
display the American flag from their homes and places of business, and to let the 
flags wave until Germany's murderous warfare had been abolished and the insult 
to Old Glory avenged. 

On Friday, April 7th, the day after war was declared, the stars and stripes 
were flying from hundreds of homes throughout Switzerland county. 

The first patriotic meeting in the county was held at Markland on Friday 
night, April 13th. Judge F. M. Griffith and Prosecutor W. J. Cotton delivered 
addresses in the Red Men's hall and much enthusiasm was aroused. 

Within a week after the declaration of war several Switzerland county boys 
had volunteered. 

Postmaster Ernest Griffith, of Vevay, was named by the government as the 
"•ecruiting officer for Switzerland county. 

It has been impossible for the author to ascertain who was Switzerland 
county's first volunteer after war was declared. By April 27th, however, the 
following men from the county were in the service: 

George N. Reeves, Jr., Clarence F. Cole, Lee L. Vannatter, Edward Cole, 
Harry Dunn, Ernest Wagner, Wilfred Dufour, Fletcher Waltz, Arthur Lock- 
wood, Irvin Furnish, Hobart Smith, John F. Butters, Denver Chase, Clarence 
Chase, Fred Madison and Fade Kelly. 

Of the above named a few were in the service prior to the declaration of war. 

The first Switzerland county boys to arrive in France were John F. Butters 
and Irvin Furnish. They were members of the 18th Infantry stationed along 
the Mexican border prior to hostilities with Germany, and they were in the first 



16 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

Expeditionary Force to land in France in June, 1917. Company M of the 18th 
Infantry was literally wiped out during the war, there being only twenty of the 
original members left alive at the time of the signing of the armistice on No- 
vember 11, 1918. Strange as it may seem Butters, who was a member of Com- 
pany M, went through the war seeing his comrades shot down in battle after 
battle, and he never received the slightest scratch. Furnish, stationed in another 
company, was equally fortunate, never receiving an injury. 

Under the conscription law the first selected men to be sent to training 
camp from Switzerland county were Elbridge Given, Sam Pavy and Elmer 
Browning. They left V'evay September 5, 1917, for Camp Taylor, Ky. 

On Saturday, September 22, 1917, twenty-six more selected men were sent 
to Camp Taylor. Hundreds of relatives and friends were in Vevay early in the 
morning to bid the boys goodbye. The entire county tried to send them to war 
with a smile — and failed. The forced smiles on the faces of scores of people who 
congregated in front of the Court House in Vevay gave M^ay to looks of pain as 
the twenty-six young men took their places in automobiles which were to bear 
them to the train at Sanders, Ky. The forced gaiety of the half hour before their 
departure disappeared, and in spite of all efforts tears glistened in the eyes of 
men and women, and sobs from broken-hearted mothers brought home for the 
first time the reality of war. 

One mother, giving up her only son, could not stand the strain. She col- 
lapsed and was carried to the office of a nearby physician. The son saw several 
months' service in France, and arrived home in May, 1919, a top sergeant. 

A bride of but a few weeks clasped her arms about her husband's neck and 
would not be consoled. The husband, Bertram Buchanan, gave up his life in 
France. 

Fathers and brothers, in an effort to be brave, clasped their loved ones 
by the hand, but the words of farewell would not come. They choked and turned 
their heads away to hide the tears. 

The boys themselves, however, bore up well, and proudly they left to take 
their places alongside the hundreds of thousands who had preceded them into 
the service. One of those twenty-six boys, Charlie Griswold, was killed in 
action. Another, Herbert Neal, died of injuries received in action. Two others, 
Bertram Buchanan and Edwin Danner, died of pneumonia. Five others were 
wounded in action but recovered. 

\\ hen the armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, 445 Switzerland 
county boys had been in the service, and six young women of the county had 
seen service as Red Cross nurses. 

Final peace terms were signed June 28, 1919. 





EP\R.L 



ENSIGN JESSE LOCK 






%^* 











CLYDE SCHOFFNER 



B. H. BUTCHER 









EARL HUGHES 









CHARLES Z. LONG 



HALSTEAD LONG 



_J 



Chapter III 

OUR HEROIC DEAD 

BERNARD BREECK 

Bernard Breeck, 27, son of Joseph Breeck, of Lamb, died at Camp Mc- 
Clellan, Ala., October 14, 1918, of pneumonia which followed an illness of influ- 
enza. He was born and reared in Craig township, leaving there in 1916 for 
Webster Lake, Lid., where he was employed until being inducted into service. 
He had been in training only a few weeks when he became ill. 

HERBERT BARKER 

Herbert Barker, 21, died of pneum.onia which followed influenza, at a train- 
ing camp at Warsaw, Ind., October 28, 1918. He was a son of J. H. Barker and 
wife, of Center Square. He was inducted into service on October 15th and be- 
came ill immediately after his arrival at camp. Death occurred thirteen days 
after he left Switzerland county to enter training. 

CLIFFORD BRINDLEY 

Clifford Brindley, 28, son of Henry Brindley and wife, of Craig township, 
died in France October 29, 1918, of wounds received in action. He was one of 
Switzerland county's selected men, and was in the thirtieth division. He was 
born in Craig township and had spent his entire life there until called for service- 
A letter sent to his wife by a Red Cross nurse stated he had been horribly wounded 
in action, a portion of his face being shot away, and that death was a merciful relief- 

DAN BRINDLEY 

Lieut. Dan Brindley, 38, died in the base hospital at Camp Kearney, Cal., 
Friday, November 29, 1918, after a short illness of pneumonia. He was born in 
Craig township and was a son of Mrs. Julia E. Brindley, of Vevay. His early 
life was spent on a farm but in March, 1902, he enlisted in the regular army. 
After serving three years he returned to Vevay and spent eight months with his 
mother and sister. Miss Ollie. At the end of that period he again enlisted in the 
army, where he remained until his death. At the time war was declared he was a 
sergeant but in a few months he had won a second lieutenant's commission. 

BERTRAM BUCHANAN 

Bertram Buchanan, 27, son of Mrs. Harriett Buchanan, of Vevay, died in 
France November 8, 1918, of pneumonia. The information of his death was first 



18 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

sent by the war department to his wife at New Castle, Ind. He was one of the 
first Switzerland county boys inducted into service, receiving his training at 
Camp Taylor, Ky. He was born near Lamb and came to Vevay with his parents 
when a small boy. While in France, Buchanan made a model soldier and letters 
from his friends were received in Vevay telling of his bravery under fire. He went 
through several battles unscathed only to succumb to pneumonia three days be- 
fore the war came to an end. 
EDDIE BURMAN 

Eddie Burman, 2G, son of Fred Burman and wife, of near Bear Branch, died 
in France November 22, 1918, of pneumonia. He was inducted into service 
from Switzerland county on June 26, 1918, and received his training at Camp 
Sherman, Ohio. Two months later in August he was sent to France. For some 
time his parents received letters regularly from him, but after the first of Novem- 
ber, 1918, the letters ceased. As the weeks passed and no word came from him 
the family became uneasy and communicated with the War Department at 
Washington. In reply to one of their letters a telegram was received which con- 
tained the information of his death. 

SERGEANT EDWARD COLE 

Sergeant Alfred Edward Cole, 35, son of James R. Cole of Vevay, dropped 
dead at Fort Ivlills, Philippine Islands, November 23, 1917. He was the first 
Switzerland county soldier to give up his life during the war. He was born in 
Vevay February 1, 1882. In May, 1898, he graduated from the Vevay High 
School and in the following September, while in his seventeenth year, he enlisted 
in the army during the war with Spain. He was in three engagements during 
the Spanish-American war, and remained in the army until his death. Besides 
his father and brothers he left a wife and four children. 

CORPORAL EDWIN DANNER 

Corporal Edwin Danner, 28, died at Camp Taylor, Ky., December 28, 1917, 
following a week's illness of pneumonia. He was a son of Charles Danner and 
wife, of Lamb, and was a graduate of the \"evay high school. He was one of the 
first contingent of Switzerland county drafted men, and a short time after enter- 
ing the service was made a corporal. He was beloved by his entire company and 
when Capt. Jones informed the boys of Company B, 335th Infantry, that Corporal 
Danner had answered his last roll call, a wave of sadness swept through the bar- 
racks. Heads were bowed in submission and tears filled the eyes of officers and 
privates alike. 

CORPORAL GEORGE W. DAY 

Corporal George W. Day, 26, of Fairview, son of Mrs. Caroline Day, was 



OUR HEROIC DEAD 19 

killed in action in France in October, 1918. The first intimation of his death was 
when his name appeared in a casualty list sent out from Washington. His 
mother was later officially notified. Day was called to the colors on June 26, 
1918, being sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio. He sailed for France in September 
after he had received less than three months' training. He was killed in the first 
drive in which he participated. 

CHARLIE GRISWOLD 

Charlie Griswold, 31, son of George Griswold and wife, of Bennington, was 
killed in battle in France on October 10, 1918. Horribly wounded he was rushed 
to the hospital in an unconscious condition at three o'clock in the afternoon and 
died three hours later. Before death, regaining consciousness for a few moments, 
he requested that his "fondest love and kisses" be sent to the folks back home. 
His parents were first apprised of his death by a Red Cross nurse who sent them 
the details in a letter. Griswold was one of the first contingent of Switzerland 
county boys inducted into service, training at Camp Taylor, Ky. At the time 
of his death he had been on the firing line about two months. 

SERGEANT WILLIAM HUDSON 

Sergeant William Hudson, son of A. G. Hudson and wife, of Patriot, died 
October 15, 1918, at Camp Taylor, Ky., of pneumonia which followed influenza. 
Several years prior to his death he left Patriot and went to Wyoming, where he 
resided at the time of being inducted into service June 1, 1918. While in training 
he received a medal as a pistol sharp shooter. He left a wife and one small daugh- 
ter, besides his parents, six sisters and one brother. 

FORREST HUGHES 

Forrest Hughes, son of William Hughes and wife, of Patriot, was killed in 
action in France on August 3, 1918. News of his death was received by his 
parents twenty days later. He was born and reared in Patriot and was well 
known throughout the township. In 1916 he left Patriot and went to Covington 
where he secured a position. H6 registered for service at Covington, and was 
drafted from that city. He had been in France only a few months at the time 
of his death. 

WILLIAM LITTRELL 

William Littrell, 28, of Craig township, was killed in action in France on 
October 28, 1918. He came to Switzerland county from Kentucky about a year 
before war was declared. He had been working on the Ellis Crutcher farm and 
entered no claim for exemption when he registered. He was one of the first con- 
tingent of Switzerland county boys to go to Camp Taylor, Ky., and was sent to 
France in the spring of 1918. He was killed during his second engagement. 



20 SWITZE^RLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

FRANK MITCHELL 

Frank Mitchell, 24, adopted son of Paul Boright and wife, of Mt. Sterling, 
was killed at Camp Greene, N. C, April 9, 1918. Investigation by camp author- 
ities proved he had been murdered. His body was found at 10 o'clock in the 
morning lying on the floor of his tent, his heart having been pierced by a bullet. 
No trace of the murderer ever was found. He enlisted on February 11, 1918. 
On July 11, 1917, he was married to Miss Dessie Wray, of Bloomington, Ind., 
who survived. 

HERBERT NEAL 

Herbert Neal, 28, adopted son of John Grimes and wife, of Craig township, 
died in a base hospital in France November 6, 1918, of pneumonia which followed 
injuries received in action. He had been wounded on September 5th and was 
slowly recovering when pneumonia developed. He was one of the first Switzer- 
land county boys who trained at Camp Taylor and had been in France only a 
few months. His division, however, had been in the thick of the fighting for 
several weeks before he was wounded. 

THOMAS W. PIKE 

Thomas W. Pike, 23, died of pneumonia following influenza, at Camp Taylor, 
Ky., October 10, 1918, after but a nine days illness. He was inducted into service 
only a few months before his death. He was born at Williamstown, Ky., on July 
9, 1895, but moved to Switzerlamd county several years before the war. He was 
married to Miss Gladys Webster on March 31, 1918. The body was brought to 
Vevay by Serg't John McNully and funeral services were conducted at the grave 
Sunday morning, October 13th, by Rev. F. E. Hammel. As the cortege started 
to the cemetery Vevay church bells were tolled and the county's flag was 
lowered to half staff. 

PORTER PATTON 

Porter Patton, 22, son of William Patton and wife, of Craig township, died 
at Camp Dodge, la., October 14, 1918. He had been sick but a week with in- 
fluenza which developed into pneumonia. He was inducted into service on 
August 31, 1918, as a limited service man, and had been in training but four 
weeks when he became ill. He was born near Vevay and had spent his entire life 
in the county. He was married on September 5, 1917, to Miss Allie Imel, of 
Pleasant Ridge. Burial was made in Vevay cemetery, bells tolling and flags being 
lowered while the services were being conducted. 

ULEY RICKETTS 

Uley Ricketts, "missing in action," was wounded in the Soissons fighting 
July 21, 1918. The young man was a son of Charlie Ricketts and wife and nearly 



Our Heroic Dead 21 

all of his life was spent in Switzerland county. When war was declared his 
parents were residing in Vevay, but after their son volunteered for service they 
moved to Madison. The last letter they received from him was in the summer of 
1918. After several months of anxiety had passed the parents communicated 
with Washington officials and were informed that their son had been wounded 
on July 21st. Red Cross workers then took the matter up and in May, 1919, 
another message was received from the War Department which stated that 
Uley Ricketts was "missing in action." A telegram received by the parents 
in July, 1919, stated their son had been killed in action on the date he had 
previously been reported as missing. 

GLENN SAMPLE. 

Glen Sample, 23, son of Henry Sample, deceased, was killed in action in 
April, 1918. He was born in Craig township, but when war was declared he was 
conducting a barber shop in Connersville. He sold his business and within two 
weeks after war was declared he had enlisted in the Marine Corps. After a short 
stay in a training camp he was sent to France in the summer of 1917. The young 
man was a cousin of Howard Sample, merchant at Bennington. 

CARROLL SABERTON 

Carroll Saberton, 23, son of Charles Saberton, of Vevay, died at Ft. Leaven- 
worth, Kas., October 18, 1918, of pneumonia which followed influenza. He was 
inducted into service at Camp Taylor, Ky., with the first contingent of Switzer- 
land county boys. The body was brought to Vevay and funeral services were held 
at the home of his father October 22, being conducted by Rev. F. E. Hammel. 
Burial was made in Vevay cemetery. 

WILLIAM L. STEPLETON 

William L. Stepleton, 43, son of Taylor Stepleton and wife, of Fairview, was 
accidentally drowned at West Point, N. Y., October 3, 1918. He was born in 
Switzerland county June 28, 1875, and was a veteran of the Spanish-American 
war, taking part in 27 battles and being awarded a medal for bravery in carrying 
James Creelman, a war correspondent, off the battlefield under fire, after Creel- 
man had been wounded. Following the Spanish-American war he remained in 
the army, and for a number of years prior to his death had been stationed in the 
Quartermaster's department at West Point. The body was brought home by 
his brother Amie, who was also stationed at West Point, and funeral services 
were held October 10th. 

HOWARD STOOPS 

Howard Stoops, 22, son of Sam Stoops and wife, of near Vevay, died at 
Winona Lake, Ind., on the night of October 31, 1918, where he had been sent less 



22 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

than three weeks before to enter military training. Shortly after arriving at 
camp he became ill with influenza which developed into pneumonia. The body 
was brought to his parents' home November 2nd and funeral services were held 
there November 5th by Rev. F. D. Wharton. Burial was made in Vevay ceme- 
tery. He was born near Florence but for a number of years had resided withh is 
parents on a farm just west of Vevay. 

OSCAR SCUDDER 

Oscar Scudder, 22, son of Braxton Scudder and wife of East Enterprise, was 
killed in action September 29, 1918. He was a member of Co. M, 120th Infantry^ 
and was killed while his company was assisting the British army in a drive which 
broke the Hindenburg line. He was inducted into service October 5, 1917, and 
trained at Camp Taylor, Ky,, with a number of other Switzerland county boys. 
He was sent east in the spring of 1918 and had been in France about two months 
at the time of his death. 

CHARLES W. STEWART 

Charles W. Stewart, 22, son of John W. Stewart and wife, of Greensburg* 
Ind., died October 3, 1918, at Camp Humphreys, Va., of pneumonia which fol- 
lowed influenza. He was born in Craig township and resided there all of his life 
until four years before the war, when he moved to Greensburg with his parents. 
He enlisted at Indianapolis May 3, 1918. 

ELBERT WOLF 

Elbert Wolf, 23, son of John Wolf and wife, of near Moorefield, died at 
Camp Custer, Mich., October 19, 1918, of pneumonia which followed influenza. 
He had been sick several days. He was inducted into service August 28, 1918, 
and a few months previous to that date was married to Miss Mable Gray, of 
Pleasant Ridge. The body was brought to his home near Moorefield and, after 
brief funeral services, was interred at Ebenezer. 

W. HAMPTON WILLIAMSON 

Hampton Williamson, 26, of Patriot, died in France November 27, 1918, 
of pneumonia. He was born in Posey township and his early life was spent in 
and around Patriot. He was an engineer and men of his trade were seldom 
drafted into the army. However, when several of his friends were called, he came 
to Vevay, and persuaded another man to give up his place in the draft. He thus 
entered the service six months before he otherwise would have been called. 
About two months before his death he was gassed and it is believed this weakened 
his lungs so that they became susceptible to pneumonia. 

ANTHONY YATES 

Anthony Yates, 28, colored, son of Mrs. Winnie Yates, of Vevay, died of 



Our Heroic Dead 23 

blood poisoning at Camp Dodge, Iowa, Wednesday evening, September 11, 1918. 
He was inducted into service less than three weeks prior to his death and was sick 
only a few days. Death was due to an infection on his neck. The body was 
brought to Madison September 14th by a corporal and from there to Vevay by 
auto hearse. Funeral services were held at his mother's home September 15th, 
being conducted by Rev. W. T. Dart. Soldiers of the Civil War, Spanish-Ameri- 
can war and the World War marched to the grave behind the hearse. 



Chapter IV 
THE COUNTY'S WOUNDED 

Shortly after war was declared Ensign Jesse Lock, of Bennington, while a 
member of the crew of the U. S. gunboat Castine, was slightly wounded by a 
bursting shell while his boat was in battle with a German submarine. 

William R. Bliss, 21, of East Enterprise, was badly gassed in action in April, 
1918. His lungs were badly burned and for a time he hovered between life and 
death. He finally recovered. 

James Grammer Oakley, whose early life was spent in Vevay, was badly 
gassed in action during the summer of 1918, when the Americans were making 
a drive. He was found lying in the mud face down and was carried to the rear 
by stretcher bearers. He never recovered sufficiently to get into the fighting 
again before the armistice was signed. 

In the summer of 1918 Ernest Lackland, who had resided in Vevay for a 
number of years, was severely wounded in action. He recovered, returned to 
his company, and took an active part in the fighting until the armistice was signed. 
He arrived home in the spring of 1919. 

On July 19, 1918, Howard P. Burton, of Vevay, was badly wounded in action 
at Soissons. Unable to get to the first aid he remained where he had fallen for 
eighteen hours until he was found by stretcher bearers. He received treatment 
for a year and although he recovered his health his arm was left in a crippled 
condition. 

Sam Huff, of near Patriot, was gassed during the summer of 1918 but re- 
covered. 

Walter Green, of near Florence, was wounded by a machine gun bullet in 
August, 1918, and twenty-four hours later, while lying on the ground at a first 
aid station, he was struck in the foot by a piece of shrapnel. 

Robert E. Smith, of near Patriot, was seriously wounded on August 31, 
1918. He and four comrades were sent out on a scouting expedition. While 
crawling through No Man's Land a boche shell burst in their midst. Smith was 
badly hurt and each of his four comrades was killed. 

Lieut. George B. Hall, Jr., was shot down in an airplane battle with huns in 
September, 1918. Two bullets passed through his legs and one through his arm. 
His plane crashed to the earth in flames and he was severely burned. His ob- 
server was killed. 

While doing scout duty in the Argonne Forest George Piatt, Jr., of Patriot 
was shot through the body by a machine gun sniper in October, 1918. He 




HERBERT NEAL 





ROBERT E. SMITH 





CHARLIE GRISWOLD 



i.:\ i\ I'L'KXisn 



The COUNTY'S Wounded 25 

crawled about a kilometer to get out of range of the sniper and then was assisted 
to the first aid by a comrade. Being unable to fight again he was returned to 
the States, where he fully recovered. 

On the morning of September 29, 1918, in a charge that broke the Hinden- 
burg line, Ermon Brown, of Patriot, was shot through the leg by a machine gun 
bullet. He dropped into a shell hole, bound the wound himself, then crawled 
out and began fighting again. A few hours later a bullet struck him in the right 
jaw, tore out the teeth on that side of his face, cut a ridge across the top of his 
tongue, then passed through the left jaw bone. Holding his jaws together with 
his hand he walked several hours until he reached the first aid station. Skilled 
surgeons performed such a marvelous operation that when he recovered his face 
was not disfigured. 

In a drive on the German lines Edward L. Means, of near Vevay, had his 
ankle broken and was in a hospital for several weeks. 

On October 2, 1918, Frank Pelsor, of Vevay, was wounded in the hand, arm 
and both legs by shrapnel. He recovered. 

Vere Graham, 21, of Mt. Sterling, was badly wounded on October 8, 1918. 
Pieces of a high explosive shell struck him in the right forearm, hand, left wrist 
and forehead. The piece of metal that buried itself in his forehead was more than 
an inch long. His health was finally restored but his right hand was left in a 
crippled condition. 

Hubert Hamilton was shot in the shoulder during the early part of October 
1918. He recovered rapidly and was mustered out of service in May, 1919. 

Pryor Smith, of Center Square, was wounded on the Ypres front in Belgium 
and after recovering and again getting on the firing line was wounded a second 
time during a drive in France. He was also decorated for being the first Ameri- 
can soldier to enter Belgium, going in as a member of a scouting party. 

Claude Barton, of Vevay, was badly shell shocked while in France, and after 
treatment in a hospital at Camp Sherman, was finally mustered out of service 

Leslie A. Byram was seriously wounded in the shoulder in October, 1918, 
by a piece of high explosive shell. While lying on the ground a doughboy came 
along marching four prisoners to the rear. The doughboy forced the prisoners 
to pick Byram up and carry him to the first aid station. An operation was per- 
formed by army surgeons and he finally recovered. 

Raymond Scudder, of East Enterprise, was seriously wounded in action a 
short time before the armistice was signed. 

William Bowen, of Vevay, was badly wounded on October 5, 1918, while 
fighting in the Argonne Forest. Army surgeons operating on him removed a 
piece of shrapnel weighing one ounce from his leg. 

Harry Smith, of Vevay, was gassed in the Argonne Forest and, while in a 
critical condition for some time, he recovered and arrived at his home in the 
spring of 1919. 



26 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

Charles L. Petit was gassed in action and was in a critical condition for some 
time but finally recovered. 

Serg't Gerald Frazier, 17, was struck by five pieces of shrapnel on November 
1, 1918, while leading a platoon of men against the Germans. His wounds were 
not serious and he continued fighting. On the following day a machine gun bullet 
went through his left arm. 

Sylvester Gray, of Craig township, was seriously wounded in action a few 
minutes before the armistice was signed on the morning of November 11, 1918. 
He had previously been wounded on August 28, 1918. 

Hervey F. Adams, of Craig township, was badly wounded in action in the 
fall of 1918. He was under treatment in hospitals in France for several weeks 
and finally was sent back to the States about the first of January, 1919. For 
several weeks he received further treatment at St. Mary's hospital at Hoboken, 
and he finally recovered. 

In the early part of September, 1918, Halstead Ferguson, member of the 
Marine Corps, was wounded in the army by shrapnel. The wound was a slight 
one and he continued fighting until the battle had been won. 

Roscoe A. Graham, of Mt. Sterling, was shot through the right leg by a 
machine gun bullet on July 18, 1918, at Soissons. He was removed to a hospital 
at Bordeaux and before his wound had entirely healed was sent back to his com- 
pany and took part in the fighting at St. Mihiel, Champagne, Meuse and the 
Argonne. His wound left his leg in a shriveled condition. 



Chapter V 
GEMS OF PATRIOTISM 

The week following the declaration of war Mrs. John Devine, of Markland, 
presented a fine U. S. Flag to the county. It was adjusted to the flag staff for 
a few days and afterward placed in the court room behind the judge's stand. 

In April, 1917, in order to grow more foodstuffs, unused Vevay streets in 
the Bottoms were plowed up by the city and the use of the ground given free to 
citizens. 

Mrs. H. M. Thiebaud requested Switzerland county people to observe 
Lafayette Day on Monday, May 7, 1917. In observing the day it was asked 
that self denial and pe/sonal sacrifice be made so that small contributions could 
be made for French relief. It was pointed out that ten cents would feed one 
orphaned child one day. 

On Thursday night, May 3, 1917, the Vevay tribe of Red Men passed a 
resolution that all members entering military service during the war should be 
exempt from the payment of dues until they were discharged. This plan was 
afterward adopted by every grand lodge In the state of Indiana. During the war 
the Vevay tribe had 34 members in the service. 

Hubert Cole, 17, enlisted in the navy May 15, 1917. For some time he was 
the youngest man in the service from Switzerland county. Later, however, the 
honor of being the county's youngest enlisted man was wrested from him by 
Robert E. Lee, sixteen-year-old grandson of A. J. Works, of Allensville. 

Dr. J. P. Ward, well-known Vevay physician, volunteered for military service 
in the summer of 1917. He was rejected because of his age. 

Thomas Bennett, 18, registered for the draft giving his age as 21. Shortly 
before he was to have been sent to a training camp his correct age was learned 
by the conscription board and his name was removed from the list of accepted 
men. It was learned that his mother had been married but nineteen years. 

In September, 1917, Mrs. F. D. Wharton secured the privilege of organizing 
Vevay women for the purpose of making army shirts. A large number of shirts 
were made until the Vevay branch was discontinued because of a shortage of 
supplies. 

On Saturday, October 13, 1917, citizens sent a home-cooked chicken dinner 
to the 43 Switzerland county boys in training at Camp Taylor. A truck and 
two touring cars were required to carry the food to camp. 

As a war measure, postage rates were Increased on November 2, 1917. The 



28 Switzerland county's part in the World war 

price of mailing a letter was increased to three cents. The old price of two 
cents was again put into effect on July 1, 1919. 

In 1917 the W. C. T. U. sent a two-pound box of candy as a Christmas 
present to every soldier from Switzerland county. 

In a Y. M. C. A. drive in November, 1917, Switzerland county's quota of 
$2,000 was more than doubled. The total contributions were $4,256.73. 

A. J. Works and Henry A. Downey, well-known citizens of Allensville, 
raised a company of Liberty Guards. Charles Patterson raised a similar com- 
pany at Florence and Wallace Rochat organized a company at Quercus Grove. 

In 1918 four-minute men made addresses at the Royal theatre at each per- 
formance, for the purpose of arousing the patriotism of all hearers. All Vevay 
lawyers and ministers volunteered as speakers. 

In the winter of 1917-1918 Switzerland county farmers, in response to a 
government request, sowed 11,000 acres of wheat. 

In January, 1918, Mrs. C. S. Tandy purchased a large quantity of yarn. 
She and other Vevay women made it up into 37 sweaters and 20 helmets which 
were sent to the Navy League. 

To keep from diminishing the supply of poultry, so that more eggs would be 
obtainable the following year, a ban against the selling of chickens went into 
effect February 23, 1918, and was not lifted for several months. 

On March 1, 1918, Clay E. Crawford, a traveling man, spoke disrespect- 
fully of the Red Cross while in Vevay. He was arrested by Marshal Smith, and 
Mayor Campbell fined him $20. 

During 1918 all citizens were urged by the Food Administration to observe 
the following regulations: "Wheatless Monday. Wheatless Wednesday. Meat- 
less Tuesday. One Wheatless Meal Each Day. Save Fats and Sugar Every 
Day." 

On March 31, 1918, clocks were moved up one hour all over the United 
States, so that there would be an extra hour of daylight for workers. The order 
remained in effect until fall. The same plan was followed in 1919. 

On April 4, 1918, State Food Administrator H. E. Barnard asked Switzer- 
land county people to stop eating wheat in any form until after the next harvest. 

In 1917 Switzerland county citizens began contributing to a fund for the 
purpose of keeping all Switzerland county boys in France supplied with the same 
brands of tobacco they had used at home. Because of a government order 
stopping the sending of parcels to France, the tobacco fund was discontinued 
April 11, 1918. Before the fund was discontinued four shipments of tobacco were 
sent to the soldiers and sailors. Citizens contributed $176.45 to the fund. The 
amount left on hand, $87.54, was given to the Switzerland county Red Cross 
Chapter for the purpose of buying gauze for surgical dressings. 



Gems of Patriotism 29 

On May 13, 1918, an entertainment for the benefit of the Red Cross was 
given in Vevay under the direction of Miss Julia Tandy and Mrs. Lucille Shaw. 
The profits were $120. 

Harry Scott, Florence soldier, was on board the transport Moldavia, tor- 
pedoed by a German submarine in May, 1918. Along with hundreds of other 
soldiers he was rescued by patrols forming the convoy. More than 100 soldiers 
were drowned. After taking part in a battle in France, Scott was reported as 
''Missing in action," but the report afterward proved to be a mistake. 

In June, 1918, Dr. L. H. Bear, Enrollment Agent of the U. S. Department 
of Labor, called upon Vevay citizens to volunteer to assist in farm work during 
the months of June, July and August. A number of business men agreed to 
give one and two days' work each week, but few of them were ever called for by 
the farmers. 

Mrs. Charles Bakes, of near Center Square, in June, 1918, originated a plan 
for women and girls living in towns to form clubs and assist the women on farms 
during the canning and threshing seasons, so that m.ore food could be conserved. 
Her plan was adopted by the women's section of the State Council of Defense 
and clubs were organized in many counties in Indiana. 

In June, 1918, George B. Hall, Jr., Vevay aviator, was promoted to a First 
Lieutenancy for bravery in action. A war department announcement read, 
"George B. Hall, Jr., of Vevay, Ind., has been promoted for commendable action." 

Miss Mary Siebenthal, daughter of A. J. Siebenthal and wife, who spent 
the greater part of their lives in Switzerland county, volunteered for canteen work 
with the Y. M. C. A. and went to France in July, 1918. 

Lee Vannatter, Patriot sailor, played ball before the King and Queen of 
England on July 4, 1918. 

Wade G. Mulford, foreman at Dam 39 until he volunteered for service, was 
killed in action July 18, 1918. 

During the first week in August, 1918, Charles E. Pangburn, W. C. Curran 
and Earl S. Brown started a fund for the purchasing of a steel flag pole for Vevay. 
The pole was purchased at an expense of more than $200 and dedication services 
were held on Monday, September 2. Private John A. Scott, of the Canadian 
army, delivered an address that was heard by more than 3,000 persons. 

During 1918 thirty young women of Vevay organized a chorus known as the 
Community Singers. They attended all patriotic meetings singing patriotic 
songs. 

Lieut. D. W. Dodd, of near Center Square, was on the U. S. S. Mt. Vernon 
when the vessel was torpedoed September 5, 1918, by a submarine. 35 members 
of the crew were killed. The vessel reached port safely and Dodd was uninjured. 

The Volunteer Medical Corps was organized in Switzerland county during 
the last week in September, 1918. Dr. J. P. Ward was appointed County Repre- 
sentative. All physicians in the county joined the organization, agreeing to 
enter the service at any time the government called for them. 



30 Switzerland County's part in the World war 

During the war the government placed a minimum price of S15.50 per 
hundred for the payment of hogs. Before the war was over hogs were selling on 
foot for $20 per hundred. 

Victory Girls and Victory Boys, an organization of school children under 
direction of Prof. A. H. Wegener, pledged $348 for the United War Work Drive. 
The amount of the pledges ranged from one to five dollars and each pledge was to 
be redeemed with money earned by the person who subscribed. 

Switzerland county's only war baby was born to Mrs. Charles Runyan, of 
near Antioch, in November, 1918. The father had been in France for several 
months when the baby was born. 

The youngest Red Cross member in the county was a son born to Harvey 
Scudder and wife, of York township. Two hours after birth the parents had 
enrolled the child as a member. 

Lee Vannatter, of Patriot, served on the U. S. Destroyer Paulding during 
the war, and his ship was officially credited with sinking two submarines. 

Howard Higgins, of near Moorefield, was one of the heroes of the Battle of 
the Marne. A wounded man whose life he saved wrote a letter back to Switzer- 
land county citizens in which he stated that as the American army was crossing 
a bridge a German machine gun battery opened up and American soldiers fell 
dead and wounded into the river. Higgins, he said, in the face of heavy fire, 
jumped into the river and rescued nine men. 

K. Shahaday, a Syrian, but who resided at the home of William Shadday 
in Switzerland county, and who had taken out naturalization papers, was drafted 
into the army and went willingly. His father had been drafted into the Turkish 
army so that father and son were on opposite sides in the war. 

On Monday, August 5, 1918, on recommendation of C. S. Tandy, the County 
Board of Commissioners ordered an honor roll board established at the entrance 
of the Court House. On this board were painted the names of all Switzerland 
county men in military service, and also the county's Red Cross nurses. 

During the war the price of eggs went to 62 cents per dozen, bread to 10 
cents per loaf, flour to $13 per barrel, hens to 28 cents per pound on foot; spring 
chickens, 60 cents per pound; sugar 11 cents per pound; wheat, $2.25 per bushel; 
corn, $2 per bushel; cattle, 12 cents per pound; tobacco on loose leaf markets, 
25 cents to 65 cents per pound; rabbits, 30 cents each; oranges, bananas and lem- 
ons, 60 cents per dozen; steak, 40 cents per pound; bacon, 50 cents per pound; 
ham, 60 cents per pound and lard, 40 cents per pound. Butterfat went as high 
as 72 cents per pound. Men's clothing just about doubled in price. Shoes that 
formerly sold for $4 per pair jumped to $8 and $10 per pair, and finer shoes sold 
as high as $15 per pair. The cost of farming implements was increased nearly 
one-half. Dry goods doubled in price and in some instances tripled in value. 

Charlie Golay, 20, son of Charles A. Golay, and one time a resident of Vevay, 
was killed in a southern training camp in August, 1917. While riding on a gun 
carriage he was kicked on the head by a mule. 



Gems of Patriotism 31 

On October 25, 1917, women of Switzerland county were asked to sign a 
pledge agreeing to conserve food throughout the war. Each signer was given a 
card which she was requested to hang in a window of her home. Nearly every 
woman in the county signed the food conservation pledge. 

Dr. Charles Loomis, well-known physician who resided in Switzerland county 
for many years, died while on duty with the American Expeditionary Forces in 
Germany, January 12, 1919. 

For a year before the war, Mexico had been giving trouble to the United 
States and 20,000 troops were stationed along the border. John A. Danglade 
Jr., of Vevay, was a member of the 163rd Infantry and spent the greater part of 
the year 1916 along the Texas frontier. His term of enlistment expired about 
the time war was declared on Germany and when he tried to re-enlist war 
department officials refused to take him because he was a chemist. He was 
told that the government needed him more in a laboratory, and throughout the 
war he followed his profession, his work all being done for the government. 



Chapter VI 
THE CONSCRIPTION BOARD 

On Saturday night, April 28, 1917, House and the Senate passed the Con- 
scription Law, whereby it became compulsory for every male citizen between 
the ages of 21 and 30 inclusive, to register for military service. A few hours after 
the law was passed Governor Goodrich appointed Switzerland county's first Con- 
scription Board as follows: Attorney James S. Wright, County Clerk Jesse P. 
Curry, and Sheriff Thomas Pickett. Later it became necessary for one member 
of the board to be a physician and James S. Wright resigned, his place being 
filled by Dr. J. P. Ward. Attorney C. S. Tandy was made a member of the board 
to act on claims for exemption. Because of poor health he was forced to resign 
in August, 1917, and he was succeeded by Prosecutor Wallace J. Cotton. 

On May 1st the Consription Board named the following men to attend to 
the registration in the various precincts in the county: 

Jeiferson Township, Precinct No. 1, John Heady 
Jefferson Township, Precinct No. 2, Forrest A. Griffith 
Jefferson Township, Precinct No. 3, D. G. Manning 
Jeiferson Township, Precinct No. 4, Lee Wright 
Jefferson Township, Precinct No. 5, Amie Nelson 
York Township, Precinct No. 1, I. H. Patterson 
York Township, Precinct No. 2, Ben F. Bennett 
Posey Township, Precinct No. 1, William Brown 
Posey Township, Precinct No. 2, C. D. Green 
Posey Township, Precinct No. 3, Harry Rochat 
Cotton Township, Precinct No. 1, Elmer Ford 
Cotton Township, Precinct No. 2, Harry Pavy 
Pleasant Township, Precinct No. 1, W. Scott Welch 
Pleasant Township, Precinct No. 2, John S. Spencer 
Craig Township, Precinct No. 1, George Madary 
Craig Township, Precinct No. 2, Emory Brown 
Craig Township, Precinct No. 3, Albert Walters 

The work of the Conscription Board grew to such proportions that it de- 
manded almost the undivided time of each member of the Board. And because 
they did not have the time to care for this work as it should be done members 
Curry and Pickett resigned and were succeeded by County Recorder O. P. 
Courtney and Rev. F. E. Hammel. 

The first registration of men of conscription age was held in the county on 
June 5, 1917. On that date 681 men between the ages of 21 and 31 years register- 




EDWIN E. DANNER 





BENXET STEWART 




RAY WAKEFIELD 



ERNEST LACKIAND 




VERE GRAHAM 



GEORGE & WINFIELD ENGLISH 





Wn.LIAM G. VANDEVER 



LEON BUSCHMANN 



The Conscription Board 33 

ed. On the registration blanks were places to be filled in by all men who had 
relatives dependent upon them for support. Of the 681 registrants 326 of them 
had dependents. A few of the men with dependents, however, refused to enter 
a claim for exemption, and the total who did not claim exemption was 268. The 
registration was accomplished without friction of any kind and nearly all youths 
who registered expressed a willingness to enter service in the war against Ger- 
many. All members of the precinct boards did their work without pay. 

On June 5, 1918, all Switzerland county boys who had attained the age of 
21 years since June 5, 1917, were ordered to register for service. It was known 
that the registration would be small and, accordingly, notices were published in 
the newspapers instructing all youths of 21 to register at the Court House in 
Vevay. During the day eighty-six young men registered for service, and a number 
of them were afterward drafted, trained, sent to France and took part in the 
battles which led to victory. 

On August 16, 1918, eighteen more Switzerland county men registered for 
service. 

On August 31, 1918, President Wilson affixed his signature to a new draft 
bill which provided that all male citizens of the United States, between the ages 
of 18 and 45, must register for military service on Thursday, September l2th. 
Men 45 years old and who had not attained their 46th birthday were subject to 
call and were ordered to register. President Wilson announced on the day he 
signed the bill that boys under 20 years of age would not be sent to camps until 
all available men from 20 to 45 had been drafted. 

Places of registration were at all voting precincts in the county. Prior to 
registration day estimates had been made that there would be about 700 men in 
Switzerland county to register. However, when the names were counted it was 
found that there were 1081. In several places in the county fathers and their 
sons registered. In Jefferson township Morton Bennett and his son Walter each 
registered for service. The father was 43 years old and the son celebrated his 
18th birthday on the night before he registered. 

This registration was remarkable for the feeling of patriotism that was dis- 
played. At each registration place men of middle age, many of them heads of 
families, announced that they would not claim exemption, and from their con- 
versation it was very evident that scores of husbands and fathers were more 
than anxious to get into the firing line in France. 

During the war 1,866 Switzerland county men and boys registered for mili- 
tary service, an average of one out of about every five inhabitants. Of the 
total number of registrants, many were physically unfit for service and several 
hundred more had relatives dependent upon them for support. About 397 men 
were conscripted and sent to camps, but many of these were discharged shortly 
after reaching their destinations as being unfit for duty. 

The members of the Switzerland County Conscription Board cannot be too 
highly praised. Fully half of their time was devoted to war work, and they gave 



34 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

their time just as willingly and cheerfully as the dough boy did in France. At 
times during the war members of the Board were bitterly censured and cries of 
"favoritism" and "politics" were heard. Throughout the war the writer kept in 
close touch with the Board, however, and it is his honest conviction that the 
members of the Board did their work only as honest and honorable American 
citizens would do. The only thought that filled their minds was to do their work 
thoroughly, selecting the best material for service, so that the war would more 
speedily come to an end. 



Chapter VII 

THE RED CROSS CHAPTER AND ITS FOURTEEN AUXIL- 
IARIES 

Shortly after war was declared, at a neighborly gathering at the home of 
Mrs. J. P. Ward in Vevay, the possibility of a Red Cross organization was dis- 
cussed, and on the following Sunday an invitation was read from various church 
pulpits asking the ladies to meet at the home of Mrs. E. M. Stevens for the 
purpose of doing war work. Quite a number of women responded, and at this 
meeting plans were made to organize a Red Cross Chapter in Switzerland county. 
A communication was sent to the Red Cross State Headquarters and following 
receipt of instructions from there application was made for a charter, the appli- 
cation being signed by twelve persons. 

Upon receipt of permission for a Chapter the organization was completed 
May 23, 1917, Judge F. M. Griffith being named Chairman, Dr. John P. Ward, 
Vice-Chairman; Miss Alice Yonge, Secretary, and C C. Shaw, Treasurer. The 
following nine directors were also chosen: 

F. M. Griffith, E. M. Stevens, and Miss Alice Yonge to hold office until 
October 31, 1917; R. N. Tirey, John P. Ward and Albert S. Woollen to hold 
until October 31, 1918; R. M. Campbell, C. C. Shaw and Mrs. E. P. Danglade 
to hold until October 31, 1919, or until their successors were elected. 

The Chairman appointed the following Executive Committee: R. N. Tirey, 
R. M. Campbell, John P. Ward, C. C Shaw, and Mrs. E. P. Danglade. 

On October 28, 1917, the annual election of the Chapter was held. Dr. 
John P. Ward was chosen Chairman and served faithfully throughout the dura- 
tion of the war. The Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary were retained. 
Three directors were elected to hold office until October 31, 1919, or longer if 
necessary. Their names follow: F. M. Griffith, E. M. Stevens and Dr. R. M. 
Copeland. 

When the first War Fund Drive began the organization was just getting 
started. A finance committee was named to handle the drive, and it was com- 
posed of R. M. Campbell, Chairman; C. S. Tandy, C. C Shaw, Mrs. W. W. Fry, 
and Miss Evelyn Craig. Eight team captains were named: A. B. Shaw, L. E. 
Smith, Frank Riley, O. P. Courtney, W. W. Fry, A. V. Danner, W. J. Cotton 
and Rev. W. T. Dart. 

Switzerland county's proportion of the War Fund was $1,500. The drive 
was opened in Vevay with a mass meeting in the Court House on Sunday, June 
17, 1917. About 200 people attended the meeting at which talks were made by 
local citizens and a patriotic program was rendered. Sunday night four car- 



36 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

loads of Vevay people went to Patriot where a meeting was addressed by Judge 
F. M. Griffith and Mayor R. M. Campbell. During the remainder of the week 
a "flying squadron," accompanied by Rev. Caton, a State Headquarters man, held 
nightly meetings at towns in the county. As a result of the drive Switzerland 
county went over the top, subscribing $2,277.87. 

Following the organization of the Red Cross Chapter in Vevay fourteen 
auxiliaries were formed in various parts of the county and the Red Cross continued 
to grow until the membership numbered 3,000. This was an average of one 
member out of about every three inhabitants in the county. A dollar paid for 
a year's membership in the organization. 

Following are the names of the fourteen auxiliaries that were organized in 
the county, and each auxiliary's Chairman and Treasurer: 

Allensville — Mrs. Henry Downey, Chairman; Miss Emma Gary, Treasurer 
Bennington — Miss Jessie Lock, Chairman; Mrs. Florence Rochat, Treasurer 
Braytown — Mrs. E. W. Shaw, Chairman; Mrs. Charles Lorch, Treasurer 
Center Square — Mrs. Jno. Peabody, Chairman; IVIrs. Clarence Stevens, Treasurer 
East Enterprise — Mrs. Adolphus Hyde, Chairman; Miss Minnie Stow, Treasurer 
Florence — Lecil Peak Gullion, Chairman, Mrs. Dora Parker, Treasurer 
Fairview — Mrs. Festus Flynn, Chairman; Mrs. Nellie Lee, Treasurer 
Mt. Sterling — Mrs. Tom Cotton, Chairman; Miss Cleta Griffith, Treasurer 
Lamb — Mrs, Mary Robenstein, Chairman; Airs. Leslie Scott, Treasurer 
Moorefield — Mrs. George Copeland, Chairman; Miss Nell Culbertson, Treasurer 
Markland — Miss Golda Shanahan, Chairman; Mrs. S. L. Benedict, Treasurer 
Patriot — Miss Fanny White, Chairman; Miss Minnie Schroeder, Treasurer 
Quercus Grove — Mrs. Ira Nave, Chairman; Miss Gladys W^ilson, Treasurer 
River — Mrs. Earl Shaw, Chairman; Miss Mable Kirkpatrick, Treasurer 

The second Red Cross War Fund, $3,000, was not raised by popular sub- 
scription. Between the first and second Red Cross drives for funds a County 
War Chest Organization had been formed, and the county's quota in this drive 
was paid out by the War Chest Organization. 

Once each week, from the day the Switzerland County Chapter was organ- 
ized until the close of the war, hundreds of women met at the Chapter Head- 
quarters, and at the auxiliaries, and sewed on garments for refugees, surgical 
dressings, hospital supplies and articles for soldiers, marines and sailors. 

After American soldiers went into action in France in the summer of 1917, 
wounded men were suffering and dying for proper care and the dressing of the 
shell-torn flesh. A call came for surgical dressings and Switzerland county's 
women quickly responded, being eager to provide these essentials by which many 
lives were saved. 

The Switzerland County Chapter needed an instructor. The Madison 
Chapter, learning of this need, offered to train some one, and Miss Edith Golay 
volunteered to take the course of instruction. She satisfactorily passed the ex- 
amination and received the instructor's certificate. 



The Red Cross Chapter and its auxiliaries 



37 



For a time after its organization, the Switzerland County Chapter held 
their meeting in the Vevay M. E. church. From there they opened headquarters 
in the High School auditorium, but when fall came, larger quarters were needed. 
At this time the Vevay Deposit Bank said: "Accept rooms in our building," and 
the offer was gratefully accepted. The rooms, light and heat were furnished 
free of any charges, and few other Chapters throughout the state had better 
equipment or more pleasant quarters. 

Miss Golay organized a surgical dressing training class, and throughout the 
remainder of the war every moment of her time was devoted to this work. Each 
day she superintended the work of different classes, and the writer sincerely 
believes that no person in Switzerland county did more for the boys at the front 
than Miss Golay. 

Those who studied the required course, passed both oral and written ex- 
amination with the highest merits, and were presented with an instructor's 
certificate by the Division Superintendent at Cleveland, Ohio, are as follows: 
Mrs. William O. Protsman, Mrs. Lucille Shaw, Mrs. H. M. Thiebaud, Miss 
Anna Sutherland, Miss Afra Brindley, Miss Pauline Banta and Miss Julia 
Tandy. 

Besides the above class there were a large number of women who gave 
equally as much time by the real making of dressings. Many thousands of yards 
of materials were used. Gauze compresses of all sizes, cotton pads and pads of 
various materials, muslin bandages, a total of 14,700. These dressings were so 
accurately made, folded and packed, that the inspector at the shipping point 
said, "They are perfectly made." 

Six times every week this splendid organization met. Day after day, week 
after week and month after month the women went to the Red Cross rooms and 
worked for the boys at the front. With every stitch went an unspoken prayer 
that that particular bandage would be the means of saving some mother's son. 
So closely and diligently did they apply their energies that their names should 
be linked forever with the victory which came on November 11, 1918. We 
name them as follows: 



Mrs. R. M. Copeland 

Miss Sara Hall 

Mrs. Frank Riley 

Miss Fannie Culbertson 

Mrs. John Brockschlager 

Mrs. Joe Krummel 

Mrs. William Burton 

Mrs. Laurie Brown 

Mrs. Will Stevens 

Miss Mary Lanham 

Miss Elizabeth Brockschlager 

Miss Beatrice Babcock 

Miss Helen Protsman 



Miss Jennie Demann 
Miss Mary Waldenmaier 
Mrs. L. H. Bear 
Miss Laura Lamson 
Mrs. William E. Ogle 
Miss Hannah Waldenmaier 
Miss Fanny Shadday 
Mrs. Julia Williams 
Mrs. Julia Gaudin 
Mrs. A. J. Williams 
Mrs. Jacob Wahl 
Miss Mable Babcock 
Miss Mary Miller 



38 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 



Mrs. James S. Wright Miss Julia Knox 

Miss Jeanette Copeland Mrs. Ben M. Bledsoe 

Mrs. Fred L. Haskell Miss Emma Brockschlager 

Miss Anna Brockschlager Mrs. Everett O'Neal 

Mrs. Wilbur Houze Miss Annette Danglade 

Mrs. E. P. Danglade Miss Falba Lyons 

Miss Nella Reser Mrs. Fred Binder 

Miss Grace Golay Miss Anna Lura Baird 
Miss Irene Babcock 

Following is a brief summary of the work done by the Switzerland County 
Red Cross Chapter and its fourteen auxiliaries: 

Refugee Garments 2,467 

Surgical Dressings 14,700 

Hospital Supplies 3,742 

Hospital Garments 4,183 

Articles for Soldiers, Marines and Sailors 2,293 

Total articles made 27,385 

The organization shipped 3,832 pounds of worn clothing to refugees, 44 
quilts and 9 barrels and bags of nuts, the latter being used to manufacture carbon, 
a substance that saved soldiers from death by German gas. 

Amount of money received from memberships $6,093.00 

Donations 1,936.47 

Besides the work done at home by the Chapter and its auxiliaries five of the 
county's young ladies volunteered as Red Cross nurses, namely as follows: 
Miss Stella Miller, Miss Lula Schroeder, Miss Lula Shanahan, Miss Mae Shana- 
han and Miss Nina Washmuth. The first four named served many months at 
hospitals near the firing line, while Miss Washmuth's service was among the 
sick in the camps. 

The Home Service Section of the Red Cross was organized February 15, 
1918, with Wallace J. Cotton Chairman and Miss Evelyn Craig Executive Secre- 
tary. Other members of the committee were Mrs. C. S. Tandy, Miss Julia 
Dufour, Miss Hannah Waldenmaier, Rev. W. E. Brown, Rev. W. T. Dart, Dr. 
H. M. Thiebaud, Dr. L. H. Bear and James S. Wright. 

The following chairmen were chosen for the townships and each chairman 
was given the privilege of selecting his own committee: 

Cotton Township, Eugene Stoops 
Posey Township, E. E. Hufford 
Pleasant Township, W. Scott Welch 
Craig Township, James Banta 
York Township, Edgar Siebenthal 
Jefferson Township, Clarence Stevens 



The Red Cross Chapter and its Auxiliaries 39 

The regular meeting of the joint committees was held the first Friday in 
each month. 

The Home Service Section gave information and assistance of various kinds 
to about one hundred soldiers' families. In some cases money was given. De- 
layed allotments were looked after, compensation was secured, the sick in the 
family were given medical attendance. Soldiers whose whereabouts had become 
unknown were located. At the end of the war earlier discharges were secured 
for many soldiers who were needed at home. And the disabled were urged to 
avail themselves of the vocational training provided them by the government. 



Chapter VIII 
THE WAR CHEST ORGANIZATION 

As the United States entered her second year in the World War it became 
apparent that if Switzerland county was to continue to meet the demands made 
on her for funds to aid the boys in the service some kind of an organization would 
have to be formed. Accordingly, on May 9, 1918, a number of citizens from all 
parts of the county met at the Red Cross rooms in the Vevay Deposit Bank 
Building and organized the Switzerland County War Chest Organization. 

Benjamin M. Bledsoe was made President; W. W. Fry, Vice-President; 
E. T. Coleman, Treasurer, and Charles L. Kincaid, Secretary. The following 
directors were also chosen: 

Charles C. Shaw, E. T. Coleman, George N. Reeves, E. E. HufTord, George 
Graham, Earl Shaw, Harry Rochat, William E. Poston, P. H. Wallick, W. 
Scott Welch, James B. Banta, Lincoln Means, Edwin Ferguson, Edgar Sieben- 
thal, Virgil Dunning, W. S. Humphrey, Rev. John Dennis, E. W. Shaw, Harry 
Tapp and Roger Holder. Rev. John Dennis later moved away from the county 
and Dilver Clark was elected to succeed him. All officers of the organization 
held office until the War Chest was finally discontinued. 

At the organization meeting it was agreed to designate the week of May 
19 to 25, 1918, as the time in which to make a house to house canvas in the 
county for funds to meet all demands made during the coming year. 

A week before the drive was started patriotic meetings were held at every 
town in the county. Ministers, lawyers and business men addressed the meet- 
ings, explaining why a War Chest was needed in Switzerland county, and pleading 
with their audiences to open the purse strings wide and subscribe every dollar 
possible. 

On the morning of May 19th the directors of the organization started the 
drive. A house to house canvas was made and every man and woman in the 
county was given a pledge card on which to pledge the amount he or she would 
give to the War Chest during the next year. 

Strange as it may seem, a few slackers were found. In some instances men 
of means refused to subscribe a single penny to the War Chest and their names 
were reported to the County Council of Defense. The action taken by that 
body was another of its many deeds that was not made public. Some of the 
slackers were called before the Council of Defense. What was said or done need 
not be told. Suffice it to say that in most instances when the Council of Defense 
had gotten through with the slacker he pledged himself to pay a certain amount 
into the War Chest. 



BLUFORD liUMrilKEY 





HIRAM BAKES 




ERMON BROWN 



V. E. KELLEY 



The war Chest Organization 41 

Switzerland county people, as a whole, subscribed liberally to the War 
Chest. Many people, fired with patriotism and a desire to help our boys on the 
firing line, subscribed more money than they could aiTord to pay. 

A woman in Vevay who helped support a large family by taking in washings, 
subscribed $4.80. A widow dependent upon a small pension for support, insisted 
upon subscribing $6. William Sanders, an ex-slave, unable to work, and who 
lived on a small pension, subscribed %Q. A colored tenant on a farm subscribed 

S25. 

One example of unselfish sacrifice is worthy of especial notice. Robert 
Gross, sixteen-year-old son of William Gross and wife, of York township, gave 
more than any man in Switzerland county; he gave every penny he had in the 
world. George Reeves, York township director, was making a house to house 
canvass soliciting funds. Realizing that William Gross and his family, who 
owned a tiny farm, were heavily in debt, he decided not to ask them 
for a subscription. However, at the home of Gross's neighbor, Charlie 
Pickett, Mr. Reeves was informed that Mrs. Gross had left word for 
him to come to their house. Arriving there Mrs. Gross said to him: 
"Mr. Reeves, you know we just can't give anything, although we would 
like to, but Robert, here, has some money he wants to give you." The 
boy explained he needed a suit of clothes and that for some time he had 
been saving every nickel he earned. During several months he had succeeded 
in saving five dollars. When he learned of the War Chest drive he studied the 
matter over carefully and came to the conclusion that the American soldiers in 
France needed to be taken care of more than he needed a new suit of clothes. 
Mr. Reeves tried to get the boy not to give all the money, but the lad re- 
plied: "They need it, and I'm going to make this old suit do another year." 
Afterward Mr. Reeves told the story to several friends. Mrs. Jim Bennett 
learned of the lad's patriotism and among her neighbors she raised more than 
ten dollars. Other persons who heard of it sent money to Mr. Reeves until 
there was enough on hand to buy Robert Gross the finest suit of clothes he had 
ever owned in his life. 

When the week's drive was over Switzerland county citizens had pledged 
$23,175 to the War Chest, which was an average of $2.31 for every man, woman 
and child in the county. The subscription by townships was as follows: 

Posey Township $4,600.00 

York Township 2,900.00 

Cotton Township 2,608.00 

Pleasant Township 2,650.00 

Craig Township 2,755.00 

Jefferson Township, outside of Vevay 2,684.00 

City of Vevay 4,978.00 

On June 2, 1918, the War Chest paid Switzerland county's quota of $3,000 
to the American Red Cross. 



42 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

At a meeting of the War Chest directors on September 1, 1918, S300 worth 
of Smileage Books were purchased and a number of these were sent to Switzerland 
county soldiers in American training camps. All selected men who left the county- 
after that date were also supplied with these books, which enabled the soldiers to 
attend shows at the camp free of charge. 

On November 10, 1918, the organization allowed the county's quota of 
$8,301 to the United War Work Fund. 

On February 2, 1919, at a meeting of the directors, $1,000 was voted for the 
Armenian Relief Fund. 

During the Salvation Army drive in May, 1919, the War Chest directors 
voted the county's quota of $1,500. At the same time they also allowed $61.20 
to the Y. W. C. A., which amount was the quota asked of the county. 

During the little more than a year of its existence the W'ar Chest answered 
every plea made on the county for funds to aid war causes, the total amount of 
their contributions being $14,162.20. 

The officers of the War Chest Organization were all representative men of 
their communities, and they each, unselfishly, willingly gave many days of their 
time to the aid of the bovs in the service. 



Chapter IX 
THE FOOD ADMINISTRATION 

Immediately following the declaration of war, Governor James P. Goodrich, 
of Indiana, sent a telegram to attorney James S. Wright, asking that a patriotic 
meeting be held in Vevay Saturday afternoon, April 14th. The main auditorium 
was packed to overflowing and it was necessary to open the gallery to accommo- 
date the crowds. The meeting was called to order by James S. Wright, and pa- 
triotic speeches were delivered by E. T. Kirkendoff, of Purdue University, Rev. 
Joseph Lindsay, of the Vevay Presbyterian Church, and Hon. Marcus Sulzer, of 
Madison. Mr. Sulzer, known as one of the ablest orators in Indiana, delivered 
the greatest speech of his career at this meeting. 

E. T. Kirkendoff made a plea to Switzerland county farmers that they begin 
planning immediately to grow more foodstuffs than ever before, telling them the 
success of the war would depend entirely upon the amount of foods grown by 
them. In answer to his suggestion the Switzerland County Food Production and 
Conservation Committee was organized as follows: 

President, Prof. R. N. Tirey 
Chairman Posey township, E. E. Hufford 
Chairman York township, George N. Reeves 
Chairman Cotton township, Eugene Stoops 
Chairman Craig township, Albert Shaw 
Chairman Jefferson township, Forrest A. Griffith 
Chairman Pleasant township, John B. Rochat 

On April 19, 1917, just thirteen days after war was declared, the first call 
on Switzerland county citizens to conserve food was made by R. N. Tirey, 
President of the County Organization. At the same time he called on every 
patriotic farmer to increase his acreage of foodstuffs. 

On April 26th unused V^evay streets in the river bottoms were plowed up 
and the ground was given, rent free, to persons who would agree to grow food- 
stuffs. 

From Saturday, May 12th, to Friday, May 18th, food meetings were held 
at every point in the county, certain speakers addressing as many as three dif- 
ferent meetings in one evening. The sole object of these meetings was to impress 
upon the citizens the necessity for conserving food and arouse the patriotism of 
the farmers so they would plant more acres of foodstuffs than ever before. 

Sunday, July 1, 1917, was known as "Food Saving Day" in Switzerland 
county, and pastors in all churches urged their hearers to conserve every ounce 
of food possible. 



44 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

Miss Nellie Rowe, a State expert, gave a demonstration of vegetable canning 
in towns throughout the county during the week of July 23 to July 28. 

On August 3rd a State speaker, Otis Crane, of Purdue, delivered addresses 
to farmers at points in the county, urging them to grow more wheat than ever 
before. 

The U. S. Food Administration was created by act of Congress August 10> 
1917, to provide further for the national security and defense by encouraging the 
production, conserving the supply and controlling the distribution of food pro- 
ducts. It was chiefly a voluntary organization brought into being at a time of 
great national stress to assist in solving one of the greatest problems presented 
by the world crisis. 

Each state was provided with a Food Control organization and in turn each 
county Food Administrator was directly responsible to the Federal Food Admin- 
istrator of the state for the enforcement of the food control law within the county. 
He was also responsible for the observance of the regulations and plans of the 
Federal Food Administration in so far as they applied to the distribution of foods 
and conservation of foodstuffs. 

In November, 1917, Dr. J. W. Smith upon recommendation by the County 
Council of Defense was appointed Federal Food Administrator for Switzerland 
county, by Dr. H. E. Barnard, Federal Food Administrator for the State. 
He immediately began effecting the county organization, and in the early en- 
forcement of rules, when people had hardly had sufficient time to see the necessity 
for such measures, there was criticism, but Dr. Smith never wavered or swerved 
from the path of duty. 

There was no cc5mpensation whatever for this work, it being entirely a 
patriotic service. Dr. Smith served faithfully until March 2, 1918, when he 
suddenly passed away. 

On March 26, 1918, Dr. Hugh M. Thiebaud was appointed Federal Food 
Administrator to succeed Dr. Smith in the long and tedious work and every 
grocer in the county was made a member of the organization. Mrs. H. M. 
Thiebaud assisted in the clerical work, and did the stenographic work to the end. 

All grocers in the county, 36 in all, reported to the Administrator each 
Monday on blanks prepared for the purpose, the amount of flour and sugar 
purchased the previous week by their customers. The total amount of sugar 
used in the county for the canning season of 1918 was 135,002 pounds. The 
amount allotted to the county to November 1, 1918, was 123^2 pounds for each 
person, and on October 1st more than this amount had been consumed. The 
average allotted to each inhabitant of the county was 15 pounds, and no more 
certificates could be issued. For table use in homes, hotels, and restaurants the 
amount allotted for each person was 3 pounds for every 90 meals. All sugar 
secured by retailers was obtained on certificates issued by the Federal Food 
Administrator. 



The Food Administration 45 

On January 15, 1918, E. P. Downey went to Indianapolis as representative 
of the Switzerland County Grocers to attend a conference pertaining to the regu- 
lation of prices. Upon his return home a meeting of all grocers in the county was 
called, and Mr. Downey reported that State Administrator Barnard had asked 
him to report to the Switzerland County Grocers that they would be allowed a 
few more weeks in which to compel their customers to use less foods, and, if 
they failed, then the stores would be taken over by the government and a govern- 
ment man would superintend the distribution of food in the county. At this 
meeting Dr. J. W. Smith, the County Administrator, stated that if he found 
any merchant in Switzerland county violating the order about selling limited 
amounts of foodstuffs to his customers, the merchant would be reported to federal 
authorities and prosecuted by the government. 

Food became so scarce at the beginning of 1918, that drastic measures were 
taken by the government. At that time it seemed that the whole outcome of 
the war depended on the conserving of food at home, and on January 26 President 
Wilson issued a proclamation which established the following regulations: 

Wheatless Monday, Wheatless Wednesday, one wheatless meal each day? 
Meatless Tuesday, Porkless Saturday, one meatless meal each day. Save sugar 
every day. Save fats every day. At the same time Dr. Thiebaud was instructed 
to see that all groceries, meat shops, bakeries and confectioneries in the county 
remained closed on each Sunday. 

On January 28th an order was given to all dealers compelling them to sell 
an equal amount of wheat flour substitutes with every order of wheat flour. 
The substitutes were barley, buckwheat and corn flours, corn meal, corn starch, 
corn grits, hominy, oatmeal, potato flour, rice and rice flour, rolled oats, soya 
bean flour and sweet potato flour. When this order went into effect there was 
lots of grumbling. Dr. Thiebaud came in for bitter criticism until the following 
telegram from Food Administrator Herbert Hoover, of Washington, was received 
and made public: "Flour substitute regulations must stand. Deviation cannot 
be permitted. Situation critical. Rules are made to save wheat flour and help 
win the war." 

"Victory Bread" became a reality on Sunday, February 24, 1918. Com- 
mencing on that date all bakers were required to use at least 20 pounds of sub- 
stitutes with each 80 pounds of flour used. The wholesale and retail price of 
bread was also fixed by the government — the retail price being 10 cents for a 
one-pound loaf and 15 cents for a one-and-a-half pound loaf. 

Beginning February 23, 1918, and continuing until April 30th no hens were 
permitted to be killed. 

In May, 1918, the Vevay Ice Plant was ordered to discontinue the sale of 
ice on Sundays, which was to be used for the manufacture of ice cream. 

On May 11th further restrictions were placed on bread, only two ounces 
being allowed to each person at each meal. 



46 Switzerland County's Part in the World war 

At the beginning of the threshing season in 1918, Dr. Thiebaud called a 
meeting of all wheat growers and threshermen in the county to be held at the 
Court House on June 5th. William Geiske was chosen inspector of the thresher- 
men. At this meeting the prices for threshing were fixed as follows: Wheat, 8 
cents; rye, 9 cents; oats, 5 cents. 

About this time an order was issued prohibiting farmers from having rye 
ground to feed hogs, or from hogging down their rye, without a permit from Dr. 
Thiebaud. To obtain such a permit the farmer was compelled to make affidavit 
to the Food Administrator that he had no corn or other feed for his hogs. 

In August, 1918, for the purpose of further conserving food, it was decided 
to organize food clubs in the county. Miss Mary Tandy was made Organizer of 
Clubs and on September 18th, the Vevay Club was organized with Mrs. E. P. 
Downey, chairman. A few weeks later Miss Tandy left Vevay to attend college 
and Mrs. Downey was appointed President of the Food Clubs in Switzerland 
county. 

During the late summer of 1917, the prices that prevailed on staple articles 
were as follows: Milk, 10 cents; bread, 10 cents pound; lard, 33 cents pound; 
cream cheese, 35 cents pound; butter, 65 cents pound; potatoes, 50 cents peck; 
rice, 15 cents pound; oleomargarine, 38 cents pound. 

As a whole Switzerland county citizens unhesitatingly obeyed every order 
issued by the Food Administrator. They used corn bread instead of wheat 
bread, learned to drink their coffee without sugar, did without beef one day each 
week, without pork one day each week and observed at least one meatless and 
one wheatless meal each day. In the fall of 1918, Dr. Thiebaud carrying out the 
orders of the U. S. Food Administrator Hoover, urged all housewives to can every 
vegetable and every ounce of fruit. "Let nothing go to waste" was the slogan, 
and the order was obeyed by all. 

The following lines, written at that time will give an idea of what was done 
by the women in their effort to conserve food: 

"They are bottling juice to beat the deuce, and beans to beat the Dutch* 
You growl and chew, they'll can you, too — you don't amount to much. While 
on the floor in streaks of gore the ketchup paints a frieze from leaky pans, for 
she who cans must mind her p's and q's. Oh, the penetrating, palpitating pun- 
gent sauer kraut brings back memories of the days before we turned the rascals 
out. But the Missus and the hired girl are proud to boil and stew, and keep on 
canning cabbage — Mister Hoover told them to. 

"But when all this canning's over and you think you've had enough, you're 
just beginning, for next spring you have to eat the stuff. You'll have pickled 
beets for breakfast eats and chow-chow for desert; you'll feed yourself from 
pantry shelves until your tummies hurt. Oh, the long and cruel winter, with 
its surplus of preserves! Oh, the fast expanding waistcoat and its ever widening 
curves! But the Missus and the hired girl are bound to see it through. They'll 
eat until they burst — Mister Hoover told them to. 



The Food administration 47 

"Daddy, dear, and did you hear the stuff that's going round ? The house is 
crammed with jell and jam — there's no place to sit down. The parlor chairs are 
full of pears, the floor is strewn with pits and other stuff — it is enough to give a 
body fits. Oh, the sickening, boiling sugar and the pungent smell of spice, fill 
our noses till we holler, 'Give us peace at any price.' But the Missus and the 
hired girl come back with this at you: 'We're canning corn and onions — Mister 
Hoover told us to.' 

"They are cutting corn in early morn, and shelling peas at noon; and if the 
night is very bright they'll dry them by the moon. The walls are sprayed with 
marmalade, the ceiling drips with steam. You cannot sleep, the demons keep 
on teasing while you dream. Oh, the smelly mustard pickle and the odoriferous 
clove, and the surplus syrup scorching as it spills upon the stove! But the Missus 
and the hired girl don't give a hang for you; they're canning grapes and apples — 
Mister Hoover told them to." 

Dr. Thiebaud was Switzerland county's Federal Food Administrator until 
all restrictions had been removed and the Administration discontinued. Regard- 
less of public opinion he saw that the food restrictions were obeyed to the letter. 
He sacrificed his medical practice to a great extent in fulfilling his duties to the 
government and he did his bit just as truly as the boys in the trenches. His 
business-like manner in handling the work brought praise from the State Food 
Administrator and no official holding a similar position in Indiana made a better 
record than he. 



Chapter X 
THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 

Upon recommendation to the State Council of Defense by F. M. Griffith, 
Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court, the following named persons were chosen 
in June, 1917, to constitute the Switzerland County Council of Defense: Charles 
E. Danner, F. A. Griffith, Mrs. L. H. Bear, E. E. Hufford, John W. Johnson, 
C. S. Tandy as Chairman, and James S. Wright as Secretary. Mr. Tandy 
continued as Chairman until January 1, 1918, when, on account of poor health, 
he resigned, and Leonard E. Smith was chosen to fill the vacancy. 

The objects of the Council of Defense were as follows: 
To promote the patriotic spirit. 

To educate as to the magnitude of the task ahead in the war. 
To assist in carrying out the enrollment for the army by conscription. 
To assist in getting idle workers and boys below military age to work on 
farms. 

To call on persons of means who refused to contribute money to war causes. 

To investigate all reported cases of pro-Germanism, in an effort to make such 
persons realize their real duty as Americans. 

The County Council of Defense might be termed the Senior War Board, 
for through them and their recommendations were all other War Boards and 
Committees pertaining to war work selected and appointed. 

The work of the County Council of Defense was never entirely disclosed to 
the public for the reason that the Board felt that publicity might be a detriment 
to their work, and time has shown that they were right. 

The largest single task the County Council of Defense had to contend with 
was the handling of those who failed to do their duty towards the Switzerland 
County War Chest Fund. A large number of persons who were able emphatically 
refused to subscribe any amount whatever to the War Chest. Their names were 
given to the Council of Defense and the Board succeeded in pointing out to them 
how they were failing to do their duty, and thereby obtained additional funds 
for the War Chest and secured the loyal support of those persons in all war ac- 
tivities. The seven or eight who failed to respond to the call of the nation and 
advice of the Council of Defense were named in the Vevay papers so that the 
loyal and generous people of the county might know and be in a position to treat 
them accordingly. 

While some counties had a great deal of trouble with persons making sedi- 
tious remarks, yet Switzerland county, owing to the intense loyalty of its citizens, 








rUYOR SMITH 




lOSKFil WiSKMAN 



PRYOK EDRIXGTOX 





t'lIARLIE ROGERS 





LEONARD MC CLELLAN 




WARD KELLY 



ALBERT L. LOWE 



The County Council of Defense 49 

was practically free from such things. It is true the Council of Defense was 
called upon to investigate several cases of such character, yet owing to the minor 
degree of the charges no drastic action was required to stop such remarks. The 
investigations had a wholesome effect on those who might have been inclined to 
forget their duty as American citizens, and as the war continued it soon became 
clear to the members of the Council of Defense that their services would not be 
needed along such lines. 

The Council of Defense made a remarkable record from the fact that they 
were able to handle all questions and propositions coming before it without calling 
on the State Council of Defense for instructions or aid. Its work at all times was 
strictly in accord with the State and National Councils, requiring a large amount 
of correspondence, work and attention of its members. 

The work of the Women's Committees of the Council of Defense consisted 
chiefly of the following efforts: 

(1.) FOOD CONSERVATION. The first drive for signers of the Hoover 
pledge cards to observe "Wheatless and Meatless" days was made through the 
Council of Defense, Mrs. Zella B. Bear, Chairman of the Women's Section, di- 
recting the work. In this campaign Prof. R. N. Tirey and Prof. Ernest Dan- 
glade rendered invaluable aid by putting the cards into the hands of the school 
children; the ministers over the county distributed them at their Sunday Schools 
and churches, and each chairman of the fourteen Red Cross Auxiliaries undertook 
to see any straggler in her community that the other had missed. In this way 
practically every housewife in the county had a chance to pledge herself to food 
conservation and almost every one of them did so. This was before the govern- 
ment undertook the rationing of the people and the matter was purely voluntary. 
No co-ordinated work in the interest of war gardens was undertaken, because it 
seemed unnecessary. The mere thought that the more food we had at home the 
more we could spare for our armies and our Allies was incentive enough to cause 
gardens to be planted in every available spot without urging. 

(2.) CHILD WELFARE. The most arduous task undertaken in this de- 
partment was the weighing, measuring and general survey of all the babies under 
three years old, in co-operation of the "Children's Year" movement. Mrs. 
A. V. Danner was chairman of the committee that had this work in charge and 
862 youngsters were registered. Miss Julia Tandy had charge of the recreation 
department and community singing, and the distribution of educational propa- 
ganda was efficiently taken care of by Prof. Tirey and the teachers in the schools. 

(3.) LIBERTY LOANS. Miss Grace Griffith had charge of the women's 
committee for the sale of bonds through all five of the Liberty Loan drives. 

(4.) REGISTRATION OF WOMEN. In April, 1918, a request was re- 
ceived from headquarters to make a card index of all the women in the county, 
noting what work they were fitted for. Details of this work are told in the chapter 
entitled "Women's War Census." 

(5.) WAR NURSES. In the effort to register women for nurses the Council 
of Defense merely undertook to co-operate with the Red Cross committee en- 
gaged in the same work, in order to avoid confusion and parallel effort. 



Chapter XI 
THE FUEL ADMINISTRATION 

The fuel situation became very serious in Switzerland county and Attorney 
George B. Hall, of Vevay, was appointed Federal Fuel Administrator for the 
county. In the early winter of 1917-1918 the supply of coal at every yard in the 
county was exhausted. 

Starting in the first week of December, 1917, the county experienced the 
longest cold spell ever known. The government thermometer kept by Miss 
Frederica Boerner, dropped down to 24 degrees below zero, and for weeks the 
temperature changed but little. On December 10, 1917, the Ohio river became 
gorged with ice and remained frozen over for sixty-three days. On the day 
before the river gorged a towboat was lying at the river front in Vevay unloading 
three barges of coal for Vevay dealers. Learning that heavy ice was coming from 
above the boat's crew hurriedly left for the Kentucky river harbor taking the 
coal with them. Arriving there the coal was confiscated by the Carroll county 
Fuel Administrator. 

On the night of December 7, 1917, eighteen inches of snow fell in the county. 
A few days later another snow fell on top of this one, and on January 15, 1918, 
24 inches more of snow fell. In all parts of the county people were without coal 
and the snow being two feet deep on a level made it almost impossible for farmers 
to fell trees to cut into stove wood. 

People suffered from the cold. In many instances two families combined 
their fuel and lived under the same roof. At this time Fuel Administrator Hall 
granted a requisition to the city council of Vevay for the purchasing of a car of 
coal which was to be delivered at Aladison. Forty-one tons were shipped to 
Madison and then came the problem of getting it to Vevay. Because the roads 
were covered with about two feet of snow it was impossible for teamsters to make 
the round trip from Vevay in one day, and thus the expense of getting the coal to 
Vevay amounted to 24 cents per bushel. City council conducted the sale of the 
coal, and on order of the Fuel Administrator let it out only in 10 bushel lots to 
persons actually in need. The city charged 48 cents per bushel for the coal, 
which was actual cost, and an additional charge of 23^ cents per bushel was 
made for delivery, making the actual cost to the consumer 50}^ cents per bushel. 
Persons who had the coal carried in after it had been dumped on the sidewalk, 
paid an additional 2^ cents per bushel for the carrying, and thus their coal cost 
53 cents per bushel. 

During the fuel shortage, wood was sold in Vevay as high as $6.50 per rank 
of eight feet long and four feet high. In a store during the severely cold weather 
a rank of wood lasted only from two to three days. 



The Fuel Administration 51 

On Monday, January 21, 1918, Administrator Hall saw to the obeying of a 
government order closing all places of business except public utilities, offices of 
county officials and stores handling foodstuffs, on Mondays. This was deemed 
necessary because of the shortage of coal. The order was to the effect that all 
places of business except those noted above should be closed each Monday for 
ten weeks. The penalty for a violation of the order was a fine of $5,000 or one 
year's imprisonment. In Switzerland county most of the people willingly obeyed 
the order and Mr. Hall had but little difficulty in carrying out his instructions. 

There being no relief in sight and the cost of wood being almost prohibitive, 
Administrator Hall advised Vevay merchants to close their stores earlier each 
day. Accordingly, on Tuesday, January 22, they entered into an agreement to 
close their stores each week day at 5 p. m. On Saturday the hour for closing was 
6 p. m. 

In a further effort to cause people to conserve fuel Administrator Hall got 
school children to tag the coal shovels in various communities. On January 
30, the children called at stores and private residences and tied on tags which 
contained appeals to persons using the coal shovels to do so sparingly and thus 
aid Uncle Sam in winning the war. On one side of each tag were the words, 
"Save a shovelful of coal a day for Uncle Sam." 

On Monday, February 4, 1918, city council ordered the Vevay electric light 
plant closed each night at 10 o'clock and the lights not to be turned on again of 
mornings. The order went into effect on the following day. 

On February 18, after the ice in the Ohio had run out, the fuel situation 
became more acute than ever and Fuel Administrator Hall ordered two barges of 
coal sent from Cincinnati. The coal did not arrive according to plans and Mr. 
Hall then took the matter up with the State Fuel Administrator. He secured an 
order on a Cincinnati dealer for eleven barges to be sent to Patriot, Florence, 
Markland and Vevay. The coal did not arrive, however, until late in the summer 
of 1918. 

During the summer there was a shortage of gasoline for use of the American 
army in France, and a government request was made in August calling upon all 
automobile owners to not drive their cars on Sundays. The request was not a 
drastic one, but each automobile owner's patriotism was appealed to. He was 
told that gasoline was badly needed to carry ammunition and food to the Ameri- 
can soldiers on the firing line, and Fuel Administrator Hall was informed that it 
was absolutely necessary for the citizens of the United States to save 8,000,000 
gallons of gasoline. The government's request provided that cars could be used 
to go to church, if there was no other means of a family getting to church, but it 
did not provide that a man could drive to the home of a relative or friend on 
pleasure. 

For the first two weeks after the request was made a number of Switzerland 
county people paid no attention to it whatever. In all the small towns, however, 
groups of boys and girls gathered on Sundays and whenever a car passed they 
called "Slacker," in an effort to shame the driver. When a certain few persistently 



52 Switzerland Countvs Part in the World War 

refused to pay any attention to the government's request other persons who were 
more patriotic threw mud, sticks and stones at the cars. This practically put a 
stop to the using of automobiles on Sunday for pleasure only. 

There was one instance where a certain young man had been calling on a 
young woman. He continued calling each Sunday night in his car, long after the 
government request was made. Another person whom it is unnecessary to name 
called on Fuel Administrator Hall and asked what the penalty would be if he 
painted that young man's car yellow on the following Sunday night. Mr. Hall 
replied, "Well, I'll just chip in with you and you go buy the paint and the brush, 
and Sunday night when he comes we'll go up and paint the car together." The 
paint was purchased, but the young man by that time had seen the light, for 
when the next Sundav came he left his car at home. 



Chapter XII 
THE FIVE LIBERTY LOAN DRIVES 

First Drive $131,400 

Second Drive 148,350 

Third Drive 228,350 

Fourth Drive 220,150 

Fifth Drive 229,050 

Total Subscription $957,300 

Immediately after war was declared the Treasury Department at Washing- 
ton worked out a plan to finance the war by selling bonds to citizens. The bonds 
were called "Liberty Loan Bonds" and were sold in denominations of from $50 
up. The first loan went on sale six weeks after war was declared, Switzerland 
county's quota being $193,806. E. T. Coleman, of Vevay, was made chairman 
of the Loan Drive in Switzerland county, but did not receive notice of his appoint- 
ment until after the drive had started, so that it was impossible for him to appoint 
an organization of workers to assist in selling the bonds. However, each of the 
county's five banks subscribed liberally and employees of the banks did all in 
their power to persuade depositors to invest in the bonds. At the conclusion of 
the drive Switzerland county citizens had subscribed for $131,400 worth of 
Liberty Bonds. Reading the figures now one would think that the county did 
not do her duty. However, when one realizes that the drive was started before 
it was possible to effect a county organization the amount was more than pleasing 
and far exceeded the total amount sold in many counties much larger than Swit- 
zerland. 

The second issue of bonds was known as "The Second Liberty Loan of 
1917." This issue was for $3,000,000,000 and was floated in the fall of 1917. 
The bonds paid 4 per cent interest and Switzerland county's quota was $114,000. 
E. T. Coleman was again made chairman of the drive and this time he was notified 
in time to appoint assistants in all parts of the county. Mr. Coleman held Liberty 
Loan meetings at churches and school houses throughout the county and these 
meetings were addressed by ministers and lawyers. In Vevay boy scouts were 
enlisted in the drive and made a house to house canvass selling bonds. Their 
work brought splendid results and several of the boys were given government 
medals for their efforts in making the drive a success. Following are the names 
of the boy scouts and the amount of bonds each sold: 

David Cotton 25 Bonds $2,600 

James Hall 17 Bonds 950 

Nelson Haskell 16 Bonds 950 



54 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 



Carroll Kincaid 


16 Bonds 


$1,100 


Wilbur Baird 


14 Bonds 


750 


August Mead 


13 Bonds 


850 


Russel Riley 


12 Bonds 


700 


Ernest Mead 


5 Bonds 


350 


Loomis Sullivan 


1 Bond 


100 



The county purchased $148,350 worth of bonds going $34,350 over the top. 
There were 326 subscribers. 

In March, 1918, all plans were made for the Third Liberty Loan, Secretary 
McAdoo choosing the 6th of April, the first anniversary of the declaration of a 
state of war, to open the campaign. Frank Riley, of Vevay, was named county 
chairman of the drive. The county's quota was fixed at $100,050, and plans 
were immediately made to double the quota. 

It was pointed out that one $50 bond would buy trench knives for a rifle 
company, or 23 hand grenades, or 14 rifle grenades, or 37 cases of surgical instru- 
ments for enlisted men's belts. A slogan was started in the county, "Let's take 
a few extra shots at the Kaiser by doubling our quota." On April 6th, the day 
the Loan Drive started, a big patriotic meeting was held in Vevay. In the after- 
noon a parade was held, the line of march being along Market and Main streets 
and ending at the High School Auditorium. Mothers of boys in the service led 
the procession. They were followed by veterans of the Civil War, Boy Scouts, 
Sunday Schools, Sammy Pen Club, Camp Fire Girls and the Boys' Working 
Reserve. At the Auditorium, Attorney Curtis Marshal, of Madison, delivered 
an address that enthused his hearers. 

In ten days after the drive started Switzerland county had subscribed for 
three-fourths of her quota. Two weeks after the opening of the drive the county 
had gone over the top with a total subscription of $120,900. At the end of the 
third week of the drive the county had exceeded her quota by $77,950, the bonds 
being purchased by 468 different persons. When the drive came to an end on 
Saturday night. May 4th, the quota had been more than doubled, total sales 
amounting to $228,350. This amount was taken by 610 subscribers. The Boy 
Scouts again did splendid work in selling bonds, their efforts resulting as follows: 



David Cotton 


16 Bonds 


$1,200 


Luther Ford 


16 Bonds 


1,250 


Carroll Kincaid 


15 Bonds 


1,150 


Wilbur Baird 


13 Bonds 


850 


James Hall 


11 Bonds 


2,500 


Ernest Mead 


11 Bonds 


1,200 


Russel Riley 


10 Bonds 


3,800 


Nelson Haskell 


10 Bonds 


800 


Charles Lamson 


10 Bonds 


650 


Claude Dunwoodie 


6 Bonds 


300 


Edward Pangburn 


1 Bond 


50 



The Five Liberty Loan Drives 55 

The Fourth Liberty Loan, known as "The Fighting Loan," was started on 
September 28, 1918, and the county's quota was placed at $202,000. Frank 
Riley was again made chairman of the drive. The same corps of assistants that 
put the Third Loan so far over the top was appointed, but in spite of their un- 
tiring efforts on October 10th, when but eight days remained, the county was 
$130,000 behind, less than $70,000 worth of bonds having been sold. When 
this fact became known a special appeal was made to all Switzerland county 
men who had been granted deferred classification in the draft. It was pointed 
out to them that the government had seen fit to permit them to remain at home 
and follow their usual vocations. It was shown that each of these men was mak- 
ing a splendid salary when, if he had been drafted into service, he would have 
been receiving a wage of only $30 per month. They were also cited to the fact 
that all soldiers were even buying bonds out of their $30 salary. Each man in 
the county who had been given deferred classification, was urged to buy to the 
limit of his ability, and the appeal brought splendid results. During the last 
week of the drive, in an effort to spur on citizens to buy to their limit, meetings 
were held at a few places in the county, speeches being made by Rev. W. E. 
Brown, Wallace J. Cotton, Judge F. M. GriflSth, Rev. W. T. Dart, and Rev. 
Minx. Because of an epidemic of influenza, it was not possible to have much of 
a "speaking campaign," and renewed personal efforts were made by individual 
workers. 

The final day of the Loan Drive found Switzerland county over the top with 
a total subscription of $220,150, which had been taken by 984 subscribers. 

With the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, notice was issued 
by the Treasury Department that one more loan would be necessary before all 
United States soldiers could be returned to their homes. This loan was called 
"The Victory Loan," and Switzerland county's quota was fixed at $132,950. 
Harry Stow, of East Enterprise, was made county chairman. This loan paid 
4^ per cent interest. 

In less than two hours after the drive started the Switzerland county banks 
had subscribed for the county's quota. Workers, however, knowing that this 
would be the last issue of Liberty Bonds, were not content with merely reaching 
their quota, and they worked harder than ever before to sell bonds. On May 
10th, when the drive ended, Switzerland county's quota had been almost doubled. 
The total subscription amounted to $229,050, there being 330 subscribers. 

In order to float the five loans in Switzerland county a great amount of 
publicity was necessary. The three Vevay newspapers, The Vevay Reveille, 
The Switzerland Democrat and The Vevay Enterprise, donated their space for 
the first two loans. All advertising and reading matter pertaining to the loans 
was handled free of charge. When the third loan was planned government 
oflficials agreed that the newspapers all over the United States had given their 
share and more in floating the loans, and appeals were then made to business 
men to pay for the advertising on all future loans. Charles E. Pangburn, of 
Vevay, was appointed by the government to handle the publicity end of the 



56 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 



remaining loans and he was instructed to solicit all business men in his county 
for funds to pay for advertising in the local papers. Very few persons objected 
to the plan, and the following Switzerland county business and professional men 
subscribed to the advertising fund: 



G. E. Mennett 
Vevay Reveille 
The Vevay Enterprise 
Patriot Deposit Bank 
Vevay Deposit Bank 
First National Bank 

E. P. Downey 
J. D. Froman 
C. E. Pangburn 
W. J. Cotton 
Charles Jaynes 

A. V. Danner 
Mrs. J. Wahl 
W. G. Klein 
Charles Sieglitz 
Mrs. E. P. Danglade 
R. M. Copeland 

O. S. Johnson 
Culbertson Brothers 
Walter E. Gaudin 
John Orr 
Emerson Brothers 
Wm. Gockel & Son 
L. Scudder & Co. 
Charles Bodey 
Mrs. F. E. Hammel 

F. C. Teats 

B. S. Curry 
Detraz Brothers 
J. T. Pritchard 
F. L. Haskell 

J. W. Marsh 
Harry Sullivan 
Riley Land 
Adams Music Store 
H. M. Thiebaud 



O'Neal & McKay 

Switzerland Democrat 

E. T. Riggs 

Florence Deposit Bank 

Bank of East Enterprise 

George Gaudin 

J. P. Ward 

J. P. Curry 

Thomas Pickett 

A. B. Shaw 

Bliss & Geiske 

Ben M. Bledsoe 

E. M. Stevens 

A. J. Williams 

Charles B. Lamson 

L. W. Golay 

L. H. Bear 

Vevay Flour Mills 

R. L. Slate 

Julian F. Lamson 

Business Men of Moorefield 

O. W. Olcott 

Dr. Benj. Searcy 

J. E. Brown Si Son 

S. V. McHuron 

Graham's Confectionery 

Wm. H. Pleasants 

Butler Hotel 

R. M. Campbell 

C W. Dodd 

O. Brindley 

Martin & Stevenson 

T. R. Humphrey 

Webster & Marsh 

Hotel Brindley 

Bern Jones 




J. KIRBY DANGLADZ: 





BEECHER WEAVER 




STANLEY COUCH 



RAYMOND ROSE 



Chapter XIII 

WOMEN'S WORK IN THE LIBERTY LOANS 

When war comes to a nation the first essential for the prosecution of that 
war is money. 

To borrow billions of dollars is an undertaking so important that the govern- 
ment must fail in it unless it has the whole-hearted support of every one of its 
loyal citizens, women as well as men. It was in recognition of this fact that the 
Secretary of the Treasury, W. G. McAdoo, created a National Woman's Liberty 
Loan Committee to help float the Liberty Bonds to be put out during the war. 

The organization of this committee was completed May 7, 1917, and a chair- 
man was appointed in each state and territory, who in turn appointed a chairman 
in each county. 

Miss Grace H. Griffith, of Vevay, was appointed chairman of the Woman's 
Liberty Loan Committee for Switzerland county and served throughout all five 
drives. In the first and second Loan campaigns there were no distinctive women's 
blanks used, so it is impossible to arrive at any correct estimate of the results of 
the work done by women. While they made many sales, the statistics are not 
available. To their energy, their enthusiasm, their zeal and their vision was due 
a great part of the success of the Liberty Loans. 

The third Liberty Loan began April 6th and extended to May 6, 1918. At 
this time a most complete organization had been perfected, which continued 
intact throughout the Third, Fourth and Fifth drives. The members of this 
committee serving as volunteers, performed the task of selling Liberty Bonds 
amounting to more than $250,000. 

It was the county chairman's duty to appoint chairmen in all the townships, 
whose duty it was to see that every person in their township was reached by an 
appeal to buy bonds. 

Miss Griffith appointed Miss Sara W. Hall as Vice-Chairman and they 
worked together directing the activities of the Liberty Loan saleswomen through 
the last three drives, making a house to house canvass in Vevay to sell bonds, 
distributing posters and other publicity material, sending appropriate selections 
to the public schools and supplies to the various township chairmen for them to 
circulate throughout their localities; receiving daily reports of the work of the 
township chairmen, tabulating the results and, in turn, sending daily and weekly 
reports to the state and district chairman. 

Uncle Sam's Treasury Department had generously extended the franking 
privilege to the Liberty Loan Committee so that they were enabled to mail 
reports and all necessary supplies such as stationery, application blanks, pam- 



58 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

phlets, buttons, etc., to the different workers without any expense. On the first 
and second Loan Drives, however, this privilege had not been granted and IMiss 
Griffith stood the entire expense without asking for assistance. 

The following township chairmen were appointed and they were given the 
privilege of inviting as many helpers as they wished to assist them. The figures 
following their names represent the amounts they and their helpers sold during 
the last three drives. 

Third Fourth Fifth 
Drive Drive Drive 

Jefferson Township— Mrs. W. J. Bakes S 7,900 S 9,750 $18,400 

York Township— Mrs. S. L. Benedict 10,000 5,550 7,050 

Mrs. Frances Krutz 850 

Posev Township— Miss Jane North 8,150 7,450 2,800 

Mrs. S. J. Dibble 2,150 

Pleasant Township— Mrs. J. B. Rochat 5,650 2,300 900 

Miss Nell Culbertson 1,950 3,150 4,000 

Cotton Township — Mrs. Charles Seymour 4,300 .... 1,100 

Miss Hazel Pangburn 12,450 7,500 15,250 

Craig Township — Miss Leila Banta 6,350 5,300 

Mrs. E. W. Shaw 10,200 6,250 17,700 

Vevay— Misses Griffith and Hall 15,200 9,300 33,300 

Total Sales $85,150 $56,550 $100,500 

In the third campaign the women were asked to sell one-fourth of the county's 
quota, or $25,013, but they actually sold $85,150, which was over 340 per cent. 
These bonds were sold to 405 subscribers. Switzerland county ranked third in 
the per cent of sales in the list of twenty-four counties of southern Indiana be- 
longing to the Eighth Federal Reserve District, and fourth in the ninety-two 
counties of the state. The record made by the women of Switzerland county 
was certainly a splendid one. 

The Fourth Liberty Loan Drive opened on September 28, 1918, and contin- 
ued for three weeks. The three preceding drives had lasted four weeks. The 
twenty-five active women workers sold bonds amounting to $56,550 to 255 
people. They sold more than one-fourth of the county's quota and unstinted 
praise should be given them for their untiring efforts. 

With each succeeding loan the work of the women expanded more and more 
and covered a broader field. 

On April 14, 1919, Miss Griffith and Miss Hall were called to Evansville to 
attend an all-day conference of Liberty Loan men and women workers. The 
purpose of this conference was to exchange ideas and experiences resulting from 
the previous loan campaigns, and to discuss plans and methods for floating the 
Fifth Loan, which Carter Glass, the new Secretary of the Treasury, had desig- 
nated the Victorv Loan. 



WOMEN'S WORK IN THE LIBERTY LOANS 59 

It was deemed advisable to enlarge the committee in order to get in touch 
with every man and woman in the county. Besides those already mentioned 
the following women assisted in the Fifth Drive: 

Mrs. R. M. Copeland Mrs. Charles Lamson 

Mrs. O. P. Courtney Mrs. William Burton 

Miss Eva Graham Miss Helen Protsman 

Miss Pauline Sigmon Mrs. Christy Scudder 

Mrs. Frank Malcomson Miss Emma Grimes 

Miss Harriett Miller Miss Lizzie McHuron 

Miss Gladys Bennett Mrs. Grace Bonnell 

Mrs. Clara Schroeder Miss Dorothy Cotton 

Miss Lulu Stewart Miss Louella Vandever 

Mrs. Mary Humphrey Miss Gertrude Banta 

Miss Carrie Ashby Miss Edna Benedict 

Miss Flora Bodey Miss Sheets 

Mrs. Abbie North Miss Lulu Scott 

Mrs. Juanita Emerson Miss Abbie Lientz 

The women were asked to sell one-half of the Fifth Loan but they sold nearly 
four-fifths of it, their total sales amounting to $100,500, this amount being taken 
by 232 people. This was a wonderful showing, for the women of Switzerland 
county ranked second in the sale of bonds among the counties of the Eighth 
Federal Reserve District. It required a higher type of patriotism to serve after 
hostilities had ceased. 

Each active worker in the Victory Loan received a certificate which entitled 
her to a medal made from a captured German cannon. 

The newspapers of the county gave splendid service in the campaigns for 
the sale of Liberty Bonds, and the co-operation of the bank oflftcials made it 
possible to keep an accurate account of the amounts credited to the women 
workers. The women of the county spared neither time nor labor in their efforts 
and responded promptly and with enthusiasm to the call of the government. 



Chapter XIV 
WAR SAVINGS STAAIPS 

As a means of financing the war the Treasury Department in the fall of 
1917 placed on sale in postoffices throughout the United States Thrift Stamps 
and War Savings Stamps. The Thrift Stamps were sold for 25 cents each, every 
purchaser being given a small book that would hold sixteen of them. When 
the book was filled then the purchaser was urged to take it to the postoffice 
where, for the additional payment of 12 to 23 cents, according to the month in 
which purchased, he was given in exchange a War Savings Stamp worth $5 at 
maturity on January 1, 1923. The War Savings Stamps increased in value each 
month, earning four per cent interest compounded quarterly. The government 
arranged the War Stamp proposition so that if the purchaser needed his money 
at any time before maturity he could take his stamps to the postoffice and 
cash them in for the amount of his original investment, plus three per cent 
interest. 

During 1917 Switzerland county was not asked to take any certain amount 
of War Savings Stamps, but with the coming of 1918 the county's quota for 
the year was placed at $198,275, meaning that the equivalent to $20 worth must 
be sold to every man, woman and child in the county. This was a huge under- 
taking as the buyers were limited to $1,000, and therefore a large proportion had 
to be sold to persons of small means, including children. 

A War Savings Stamp Committee was appointed in the county as follows: 
James S. Wright, Chairman, Miss Julia Tandy, Women's Chairman; Ernest F. 
Griffith, R. N. Tirey, Ernest Danglade and Frank Riley. 

The stamps were placed on sale at each postoffice and bank in the county, 
and the rural route carriers out of Vevay, Benington, Florence and Patriot, 
carried the stamps with them while making deliveries of mail, and personally 
urged their patrons to buy. When the selling of the stamps was well under way 

in 1918 sales amounting to nearly $10,000 were recorded during the month of 
February. In the first six weeks of the year there were 120 registered accounts, 
merchants, professional men and farmers buying liberally in amounts ranging 
from $100 to $1,000. 

On April 1st the county was behind in its quota. The report at that time 
showed sales amounting to $29,845, which was $3 per capita. At the same ratio 
throughout the remainder of the year the county would have been $78,900 behind 
her quota. 

Through the personal efforts of postmaster Ernest F. Griffith and rural 
carriers Joe Danner, C. P. Buschmann, Leland Courtney and Leslie Littlefield, 



WAR Savings Stamps 61 

Vevay went over the top on May 20th. The year's quota for Vevay was $25,000, 
but on the above date the total number of sales made in Vevay amounted to 
$27,730.50. Vevay was the first county seat in Indiana to exceed its quota and 
it was likewise the first town in Indiana of more than 1,000 population to exceed 
its quota. 

While Vevay's quota had been exceeded other portions of the county were 
far behind, and at a meeting held in May it was decided to hold a drive through- 
out the county for the sale of War Stamps. The following committee to push the 
drive was named: 

Craig — Mrs. Kate Holder; Dr. James Sharp. 
Pleasant — Miss Jessie Lock; George Leep. 
Cotton — Hazel Pangburn; L. M. Clark. 
Posey — Miss Wrelah Goff; Fred Gockel. 
York— Mrs. Lillie Told; E. E. Scudder. 
Jefferson — Glendora Scudder; F. A. Griffith. 

The quota for the county during the drive was $25,750, which meant $2.50 
for every man, woman and child. Just before the drive started a large War 
Savings Stamp flag was sent to the Vevay postoffice by the State Committee, 
with instructions that if the county's quota was reached then the flag was to be 
retained at the Vevay postoffice. Should the county fall behind its quota, how- 
ever, the instructions were to roll the flag up in black cloth and mail it back to 
Indianapolis. 

By the time the drive was over the total amount of stamps sold in the county 
during the year was a little more than $60,000, the week's quota had been ex- 
ceeded and the honor flag was retained. Precinct No. 1 in York Township 
went over the top with a big margin. The allotment for the precinct was $3,187, 
and $4,975 worth of stamps were sold. A house to house canvass was made and 
nearly every person in the precinct purchased stamps. The success of the drive 
in this precinct was due solely to the untiring efforts of the women's chairman, 
Mrs. Lille Told, and her solicitors, Christine Snider, Beulah Bevis, Thelma Moore, 
Clara Land, Dorothy Scott, Gladys Scott, Eva Scudder, Mariam James and 
Loomis Wilson. 

In Posey Township Fred Gockel and Miss Wrelah Goff, assisted by a fine 
corps of workers, piled up a total sales of nearly $6,000. 

On June 10, 1918, County Chairman James S. Wright was notified that 
War Savings Stamps meetings must be held in every town in Switzerland county 
on Friday night, June 18th. The government communication pertaining to these 
meetings read, "All those invited by you or your representatives who do not 
attend the meeting, or if in attendance, fail to buy stamps or sign the pledge to 
buy, and do not give a satisfactory reason for their failure to do so, which must 
be noted on a pledge card, must immediately be reported by information to the 
Federal Government." 

On the night of June 28th War Stamps meetings were held at the following 
places in Switzerland county: Fairview, East Enterprise, Patriot, Quercus Grove, 



62 Switzerland Couxtvs Part ix the World War 

Bennington, Pleasant, \'evay. Mt. Sterling, Center Square, Lamb, Braytown, 
Long Run Church. Markland and Florence. At each meeting there was noted a 
large attendance of citizens. Pledge cards were presented to even.* man and 
woman in the county during the week following the meetings, and each person 
was requested to sign on the card the amount of stamps he would agree to pur- 
chase by December 31, 1918. Each person was urged to save to the utmost of 
his ability and to buy stamps with the amount saved. 

Every home in tlie county was visited by workers during the drive and more 
tlian S90.000 worth of pledges were secured. This added to $70,000 worth which 
had been sold prior to the drive made the total amount of sales and pledges up 
to July 4th a little more than $160,000. 

During the remainder of the summer of 1918 ver}- few sales of stamps were 
made except to persons redeeming their pledges, and on October 31st the total 
sales in the county amounted to $162,917. 

As the end of the year neared it became apparent that Switzerland county 
would not take her quota of War Stamps. The people of means had all pur- 
chased to the limit allowed by the government and all other citizens had pur- 
chased every dollar's worth they could afford. 

One more effort was made during Thanksgi\-ing week, however, but this 
drive resulted in only a few sales. \Mien the year was up the total sales in the 
county amounted to $175,000, which was $23,275 behind the quota. 

Looking at the matter from another view point, the total sales amounted to 
§18.02 per capita, and this was much higher than Indiana's county average. 
There is no doubt but that the quota would have been reached had not citizens 
of moderate means subscribed so liberally to each of the Liberty Loans, hundreds 
of people making weekly payments on the Loans, so that they had no money left 
with which to buy stamps. 

One gratif}-ing feature is that of the $175,000 worth of stamps purchased up 
to the time this was wTitten on July 1, 1919, only about $7,000 worth of the 
stamps had been cashed in. This showed that the people of Switzerland county 
realized the purpose for which the stamps were issued and that the government 

still had t'r.e use of their s:. >. 



Chapter XV 
THE WOMEN'S WAR CENSUS 

After the United States had been in the war for a year, throughout the 
country women began filling the places of men who had entered military service. 
The government anticipated that thousands of women would be needed to fill 
various places in another year, so an order was given to take a Women's War 
Census in every county April 19 to 29, 1918. The objects of the census were 
as follows: 

1. To furnish accurate information to the government of the capacities in 
which women were then serving, whether in their own home or in paid pursuits, 
trades or professions. 

2. To interpret to the government the possibilities of the woman power of 
the country. 

3. To give every woman an opportunity to offer to her country such service 
as she was best fitted to render. 

4. To have in every community lists of women, carefully classified, who were 
willing to be called upon for trained or untrained service to the state or nation. 

5. To ascertain which women were available for service outside the home 
and which were not. 

6. To list the women who wished to take training in order to give more 
efficient service. 

7. To be able to furnish w^omen for salaried positions, whether in govern- 
ment service or not. 

A part of the instructions in the order for women to register will now probably 
bring a smile. The government communication said: "Women will not be 
forced to give their exact age but are advised to do so, as certain government 
positions are open only to women between certain ages." 

The government also made it plain that women who registered would not 
be drafted for service, and would not be compelled to leave their homes unless 
they so desired. 

To handle the registration properly a large force of workers was necessary. 
Miss Anna Sutherland was made county chairman and the following women were 
appointed to act as registrars: 

Jefferson — Chairman, Mrs. Mable Woollen. Assistants, Mrs. Lincoln Means, 
Mrs. K. L. Hastings, Mrs. Ernest Griffith, Mrs. Jesse Curry, Mrs. Kate Johnson, 
Mrs. Henry Cotton, Mrs. George Graham, Mrs. Fred L. Haskell, Mrs. Frank 



64 Switzerland County's Part in the World war 

Riley, Mrs. Walter Trafelet, Miss Gertrude W^ahl, Mrs. Ed Krall, Mrs. Mable 
Given, Miss Fannie Davis. 

Craig — Chairman, Mrs. Hattie Malcomson. Assistants, Airs. Roy McKay, 
Miss Mary Shaw, Miss Connie WoodfiU, Mrs. Allen Myers, Miss Mabel Brindley, 
Miss Bertha Cooper, Mrs. John Banta, Miss Leo Haskell, Miss Leila Joyce, Miss 
Carrie Griffith, Miss Dorothy Cotton, Mrs. Kate Holder. 

York — Chairman, Mrs. Irvin Armstrong. Assistants, Mrs. Johnnie Scudder, 
Miss Hattie Land, Miss Alary Parker, Mrs. Alarietta Clore, Miss Carrie Culbert 
son, Aliss Gladys \Mlson. 

Posey — Chairman, Aliss Fanny White. Assistants, Mrs. Verona Gockel, 
Miss Nina Dibble, Mrs. Cora Richards, Mrs. Kae Long, Miss Alary Schwade, 
Miss Edith Buck, Airs. Alinnie Searcy, Aliss Cora Uhlmanseik, Airs. Hessie 
Gullion Parker, Aliss Florence Cunningham, Airs. Will Lostutter, Airs. Sydney 
March, Mrs. Daisy Nave, Airs. Sadie Bodey, Aliss Sybil Vawter. 

Cotton — Chairman, Aliss Emma Gary. Assistants, Airs. Elmer Ford, Airs. 
Bernie Bovard, Airs. Alort Tinker, Airs. Warren Pickett. 

Pleasant — Chairman, Airs. William HuUey. Assistants, Aliss Leona Slaw- 
son, Miss Florence Lock, Airs. James Seavers, Aliss Clara Osborne, Aliss Anna 
Hess, Airs. Vera Stout, Airs. Alaggie Wier, Aliss Kathleen Griswold, Aliss Golda 
Jackson, Aliss Gladys Jackson, Airs. Will Shadday, Aliss Nell Culbertson, Aliss 
May Danner, Aliss Agnes Boyle, Aliss Aldeen Alier. 

The women of the county responded in fine spirit to the registration for war 
work. A few who possibly were under the impression that if they registered they 
would be drafted and sent to France, refused to register. There was no penalty 
attached to one's not registering, but all loyal women were asked to do so even 
though they offered no service. A majority of the women in the county were 
eager to go on record for the government and in nearly every instance, the regis- 
trars reported, there were expressions of regret that more service could not be 
offered. 

The work of registering the women of the county was probably a greater 
task than the work of registering men of conscription age for military service. 
The women registrars worked faithfully for a week and then ran out of registra- 
tions cards before their work had been finished. Additional cards were sent 
from Washington and when they arrived the registration was then completed. 

A total of 2,549 women registered, the total by townships being as follows: 
Jefferson, 592; Pleasant, 466; Posey, 450; York, 443; Cotton, 314; Craig, 284. 

There were 1,853 housekeepers who registered, that class far outnumbering 
any other. The next largest number were "Alother's Helpers," 210. There were 
140 teachers who registered. That number included those in active service and 
those no longer teaching. 







IRVIX SIEBERT 





JOHN F. BROCKSCHLAGER 




OSCAR LEE 



GARY WELCH 




EUGENE GRIMES 





HAROLD CURRY 




CHANCY WHITHAM 



PORTER WEBSTER 



,-y 



The WOMEN'S WAR CENSUS 65 

Other interesting facts pertaining to the registration of women are as follows: 

Housekeepers doing Red Cross and allied work, or offering service in that 
class of work, 1,078. 

Housekeepers not offering service of any kind, 775. 

Housekeepers offering other service, 50. 

Trained persons, 428. 

Trained persons doing or offering Red Cross work, 313. 

Persons trained in more than one occupation, 27. 

Persons wanting training, 188. 

Persons offering service other than Red Cross work, 257. 

Persons trained in surgical dressing work, 10. 

Persons trained in first aid work, 1. 

Persons doing general Red Cross work, 626. 

Persons working on garments, 82. 

Persons working on surgical dressings, 43. 

Persons knitting for the Red Cross, 143. 

Persons sewing for the Red Cross, 72. 

Persons willing to do Red Cross emergency work, 29. 



Chapter XVI 
THE SAMMY PEN CLUB 

One warm afternoon in September, 1917, a group of four girls came from the 
Court House in Vevay, where they had been attending a patriotic meeting, the 
object of which was to stir Switzerland county folk to the realization of the 
many activities, needs, and responsibilities occasioned by the world's conflict 
that was being waged across the waters. Every person there was made to feel 
that his aid was urgently needed and each came away with the resolve: "I 
must do something." 

Kind reader, you are now invited to become a listening member of the group 
of four girls as they passed up Main Street. 

"Girls, didn't this afternoon's talk just make you want to do something 
right away, too — something that would help ?" came from one of the girls. 

"Yes, but what shall we do?" questioned another. "It seems that already 
so many things have been done that any effort on our part would amount to just 
an unnecessary duplication." "I'll tell you what we might do, that would per- 
haps help the boys who are doing so much for all of us, and that is send them a 
lot of letters from home," suggested one of the group. "A brilliant idea" chorused 
all of the girls. The idea grew and enlarged until it developed into the organiza- 
tion of the Sammy Pen Club, the aim of which was to keep the "Boys in Khaki" 
well supplied with news and a little "heart comfort and soul seasoning" from back 

home. 

At a meeting held at the home of Miss Marie Tilley the following officers 

were chosen: 

President — Gertrude Wahl 

Secretary — Helen Protsman 

Treasurer — Isabelle Tardy 
The charter members were: 

Merriam Protsman Dorothy Campbell 

Elizabeth Brockschlager Rebecca Cole 

Loretta Dittgen Hallie Butler 

Clara Weales Maurine Merritt 

Virginia Merritt Alary Bear 

Garnet Shirley Julia Tandy 

Geraldine Krom Marie Tilley 

Elizabeth Campbell Irene Dufour 

Mabel Babcock Bessie Peters 

Mary Miller Irene Babcock 

Edmonia Colem.an Janette Copeland 

Margaret Shaw Carolina Thuneman 



The Sammy Pen Club 67 

The first consideration of the organization was the question of financial 
backing to launch the club upon its undertaking. Ideas were immediately 
"drafted" and those that qualified saw strenuous service on Saturday, November 
10th, when a very successful market was "arrayed" in the room formerly occupied 
by the Knox Shoe Store. Donations of edibles had been contributed liberally, 
and sold remarkably fast. In addition to the market a Tag Drive was made, 
"mowing down and taking prisoners" all of a man's loose change, for all of the 
27 girls exercised their birth right — woman's ability to talk — and permitted no 
person to leave Vevay without flying his colors — a black S. P. C. on a field of 
white — which was an indication that he had "done his bit." 

When evening came it brought with it a squad of tired, but happy girls, 
and when the day's proceeds were counted the sum totaled $106 which successful 
financial beginning fired the girls to greater enthusiasm. 

Through the kindness of Mr. Charles Sieglitz the S. P. C. was enabled to 
have a club room on the third floor of the Sieglitz building. This was fitted up 
with "a-la-donation" furniture, rugs, pillows, pennants and pictures. Scrim cur- 
tains, stenciled with the letters S. P. C, were made and hung at the windows, 
which added greatly to the appearance of the room. 

The official insignia adopted by the girls were steel pen points soldered to a 
pin fastening, making very original and inexpensive badges. 

On Friday evenings were held the meetings during which each girl drew 
numbers from a box and then consulted the directory for the corresponding 
names and addresses. Thus each girl wrote to four or five boys each week, and 
their replies were read at the following meeting. The shuffling system made it 
possible for each boy on the mailing list to receive a variety of mail from members 
of the club. 

In November the girls in groups of four met at different homes to make 
candy for the boys who were then in France. Pneumatic camp pillows were also 
sent by the club to the Sammies who were to spend their Christmas on foreign 
soil. To the soldiers in the training camps in the States were sent hand-made 
stationery kits, provided with writing material. 

For New Year's, a letter containing a greeting from each club member was 
sent to every correspondent. All during the war letters were a vital force in 
keeping up the spirits of our boys, as is verified by the words of Private Peat, 
the remarkable young Canadian, who said: "If I could talk to the mother of 
every soldier at the front I would tell her one thing above all. I would try to 
make her realize what it means to a fellow to get a letter from home. It's more 
to a Sammy, or a Tommy, or a poilu than food and drink — more than medals. 
It's the greatest thing in his life, I tell you! 

"One night when we fellows in the Canadian expedition were waiting for our 
turn to *go on,' we started to play a game of poker. I'll never forget it. The 
enemy's guns had found us and shells were simply tearing us to pieces. As we 
played the explosions got nearer and nearer. But we didn't stop. A shell burst 



68 Switzerland county's Part in the World war 

25 yards from us, and the only effect was to make the game faster. Another 
shell exploded right over our heads. That hun had a wonderful eye. A splinter 
tore through the deck of cards and scattered the chips in all directions. But we 
didn't stop. And then came the call down the line: 'Mail man, mail man — 
letters from home! Letters from home!' Cards, money, German shrapnel — 
everything was as though it had never existed. We simply jumped for that 
mail man's neck." 

From the expressions of praise repeatedly sent by our own Switzerland 
county boys the girls of the S. P. C. were made to feel that "our bit" had been 
thoroughly appreciated and had served its purpose — to make the boys just a 
little happier. 

Following the organization of the club in Vevay the idea spread to other 
towns and cities. The Daytona (Florida) Journal carried a two column article 
calling upon the girls of that city to organize a Sammy Pen Club similar to the 
one at Vevay. It commented at length on the Vevay club and referred to it as 
one of the great patriotic movements started by women since the beginning of 
the war. The Cincinnati Post also carried a two column editorial about the 
Sammy Pen Club and recommended the establishing of similar clubs throughout 
the United States. 

In the months that followed many Sammy Pen Clubs were organized in 
towns and villages in the LTnited States and thousands of letters were thus sent 
to soldiers on the strength of the idea that originated with four Vevay girls. 



Chapter XVII 
THE BOYS' WORKING RESERVE 

As the war progressed through the year of 1917 the steady enlargement of 
the army practically depleted the laboring forces on the farms. Nearly every 
young unmarried farmer had entered the army or would do so in a short time. 
The food question became a graver one than before. Very few farmers had 
enough help left on their farms to grow an ordinary crop and still the government 
was calling for larger crops than had ever been grown before. A happy solution 
was thought out in the United States Boys' Working Reserve. 

Directors were named in every county in the United States and the patriot- 
ism of boys from sixteen to twenty-one years was appealed to. All boys of that 
age were urged to go to the farms and work so that more foodstuffs might be 
raised for our army and our Allies. 

Rev. W. E. Brown, of the Vevay M. E. church, was the director of the work 
in Switzerland county. The Working Reserve was organized in 1917, and in a 
very short time 75 boys had volunteered to do their bit on the farms. Each boy 
was supposed to get work that would help in winning the war, and through the 
help of these lads, nearly every one of whom would have enlisted in the army 
had he been of the proper age, many tons of food were grown to help feed the 
Allies. 

All members who worked on farms more than thirty days received a bronze 
badge from the government. All who worked ninety days or more received a 
bronze bar in addition to the badge. A majority of the boys who enrolled in the 
Working Reserve spent the months between school terms growing foodstuffs 
in an effort to help win the war. 

Had it not been for the Boys' Working Reserve the United States and her 
Allies would have suffered much more than they did because of a shortage of 
food. In every county in every state boys of tender years answered their coun- 
try's call for volunteers and went to the farms where their efforts resulted in a 
greatly increased production of foodstuffs. 

The boy who was a member of the Working Reserve has a right to be just 
as proud of his part in winning the war as his elder brother who was on the firing 
line. 

Twenty-six Switzerland county boys won the Federal badges for service on 
farms as members of the Working Reserve. Namely, they are as follows: 

W. Farrell, Ernest Eric Schroeder, Charles H. Johnson, Orville Jackson, 
Gerald Scudder, Russell Lee, Charles Ross Kern, Lyman Harold Scudder, Charles 



70 Switzerland Couxtvs Part ix the World War 

Edward Stephenson, Arnold Anderson, Ward Waltz, Fred ^L Scott, Walter 
Bennett. ALiurice Austin Briggs, Andrew Heath, L^nies D. Seaver, Dewey Cole- 
man, Wilbur Brooke, Robert Gray Blodget, Hersohel Barnhart Scott, Forrest 
Edward Brown, David Cotton, Rollin Curry, Staiford Markland, Wilfred Ben- 
nett and John Howard Bales. 



Chapter XVIII 
SOLDIER POETRY 

Two splendid poems were written by Switzerland county boys during the 
war, and as they were copied by newspapers all over the United States we deem 
them worthy of reproduction in this history of Switzerland county's part in the 
World War. They are as follows: 

MY FIRST NIGHT AT CAMP TAYLOR 

By Scott Thompson 

I'm here with two thin blankets 

As thin as a slice of ham; 
A German spy was surely the guy 

That made 'em for Uncle Sam. 

How did I sleep.'' Don't kid me, 

My bedtick is filled with straw. 
All lumps and humps and big fat bumps 

That punched me till I'm raw. 

Me and my two thin blankets, 

As thin as the last slick dime; 
As thin, I guess, as a chorus girl's dress; 

Well, I had one h — 1 of a time. 

I pulled 'ern up from the bottom. 

My nighties were B. V. D.'s, 
Gave a couple of yanks to cover my shanks. 

And then my feet would freeze. 

You could use them for porus plasters. 

Or, maybe, to strain the soup. 
My pillows are shoes; when I try to snooze, 

I've chillblains, coughs and croup. 

Me and my two thin blankets. 

Bundled up to my chin; 
Yes, a German spy was surely the guy, 

And, Gosh! but he made 'em thin. 



72 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

camp taylor heroes 

By Chancy L. Whitham 

We'll soon be back from this terrible war, 
Covered with honors and medals galore; 
Back from chasing the terrible huns — 
Back from the roar and crash of guns — 
Back from doing our duties well — 
Regular heroes we are — like hell. 

We'll soon be back on the job again, 

Out of the trenches, the cold and the rain, 

Where we fought fierce battles against the huns, 

Using our mouths instead of guns; 

Back from doing our wonderful stunt 

Of marking time on "The Louisville Front." 

Yes, we'll soon be back from doing our "bit," 

Showing our "courage" and proving our "grit;" 

Playing our part in the awful jam. 

By eating some meals on Uncle Sam. 

In fact, there is nothing could possibly mar 

Our wonderful record of winning the war. 

We know what we'll face when we're home once more; 

How they'll "kid" us and "josh" us about "our war;" 

And say we were "soldiers of peaceful ways — " 

Oh, we'll hear all that to the end of our days. 

And we'll only reply to the boys who "kid," 

"By God, we tried and that's more than you did." 




FLY E. RICKETTS 









SGT. LAWKEXCE CHANDLER 




LOREN STOOPS 



WALTER GREEN 



Chapter XIX 
SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S ROLL OF HONOR 



RED CROSS NURSES 



Miss Hattie Kendall 
Miss Lulu Shanahan 
Miss Mary Shanahan 



Miss Louise Schroeder 
Miss Stella Miller 
Miss Nina Washmuth 



SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES 



Earl Armstrong 
Guy Anderson 
Hervey F. Adams 
Herbert Archer 
Fred G. Adams 
William C. Archer 
Leland S. Adams 
Galin Armstrong 
Earl Adams 
Charlie Andrew 
John F. Butters 
Howard P. Burton 
Bertram Buchanan 
Ulysses Butters 
Ermon Brown 
James H. Buddenberg 
Leslie Byram 
Clifford Brindley 
Everett Bennett 
John C. Blevins 
Russell Bennett 
Martin Buenning 
Carroll Butler 
Ernest A. Bressert 
Leon Buschmann 
Hiram Bakes, Jr. 
Elmer A. Brown 
B. H. Butcher 
Paul J. Bodey 
William R. Bliss 



Ivan Boesch 
Claude H. Barton 
Walter Buenning 
John F. Brockschlager 
Claude Brown 
Enoch M. Brindley 
Charles Brameier 
Robert Banta 
William Bowen 
Eddie Burman 
John L. Birkemier 
Edgar L. Baird 
Lewis Boyd 
Jesse Browning 
Everett A. Brown 
Jesse Boright 
Francis Beatty 
Mark Bear 
John W. Ballard 
Eddie C. Birkemier 
Bernard Breeck 
Alfred Benning 
Herbert Barker 
Elmer Browning 
Dan Brindley 
Charles Banta 
William Brameier 
Clarence Bennett 
Clarence F. Cole 
Denver Chase 



74 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 



Clarence Chase 

George L. Clendenning 

Stanley Couch 

Lawrence Chandler 

William Carlton 

Hubert Cole 

Harold E. Curry- 
John W. Colen 

Raymond Carnine 

Bernard R. Carver 

Robert Coy, Jr. 

Virgil Cole 

Charles E. Clements 

Charles Carter 

Clarence Croxton 

Claude H. Cotton 

Albert Cotton 

Dean Campbell 

Chester Chase 

Otis E. Chase 

Carl Collins 
Harry Cleeter 
James Carf 
M. P. Creath 
Edward Cole 
Stacey Cole 
Charles Cheevers 
Paul Couch 
Clair Curry 
Sam Carlton 
August Cutter 
Rufus Colen 
Edward Colen 
Harry Dunn 
Wilfred Dufour 
D. W. Dodd 
Edwin F. Danner 
Willie Dunn 
Raymond L. Detraz 
J. Kirby Danglade 
Dave Day 
Allan Day 
Charles L. Danner 
Will Dickason 
Leslie R. Driver 
Dilver S. Dunning 



George W. Day 
Jacob H. Detmer 
Howard P. Dibble 
Leland O. Dunning 
Leo Dittgen 
Clements Demann 
Roy Driver 
Pryor Edrington 
Lucian Emerson 
James W. Edrington 
George English 
Robert Emerson 
Winfield English 
Warren Elsrod 
Humphrey W. Evans 
James R. Evans 
Benjamin Franklin 
Irvin Furnish 
Halstead Ferguson 
Edwin S. Furnish 
Gerald Frazier 
Smith Fallis 
Arthur Furnish 
William T. Faunce 
Clarence Forsee 
Irwin Foutty 
Theodore Foster 
William Foley 
Harvey H. Ferguson 
Roscoe A. Graham 
Elbridge Given 
Winfield S. Gordon 
Charlie Griswold 
Charlie Gardner 
Eugene Grimes 
Vere Graham 
Clyde Griffith 
Clennie H. Griffin 
Herbert Earl Gullion 
Walter Green 
Sam Huff 

Joseph C. Hollcraft 
Fletcher Hufford 
Silas Hewitt 
Robert T. Harris 
David Humphrey 



Switzerland County's Roll of Honor 



75 



Hubert Hamilton 
James R. Hankins 
Crawford Hamilton 
Fred W. Humphrey- 
Leon F. Hickman 
George B. Hall, Jr. 
Wesley M. Hall 
Forrest Hughes 
David Heath 
Garritt L. H. Hoffmeier 
Bluford Humphrey 
Howard N. Humphrey 
Earl Hughes 
Gilbert Henry 
Raymond Hardin 
Casper Hollcraft 

John Herring 

Howard Higgins 

Wilbur Houze 

Roy A. Hastings 

Leslie Hamilton 

Walter Herndon 

Gayle N. Hufford 

Herman Hankins 

Vernon Hudson 

Charles W. Haskell 

Walter Humphrey 

William C. Hudson 

Forrest W. Hess 

Charlie Hardin 

Griffith Hufford 

Ray Haskell 

Wayne Hufford 

Raymond Hufford 

Carroll Houze 

John W. Heath 

Forest Iddings 

Omer Jump 

Fade Kelly 

Charles L. Kent 

Mort Kelly 

V. E. Kelly 

Robert Knox 

Ward Kelly 

Lawrence E. Kinman 

George H. Klausing 



Hank K. Konkle 
David Kern 
Stanley Lock 
Jesse Lock 
Earl Lamkin 
William Littrell 
Ray Leatherbury 
Halstead Long 
Charles Z. Long 
Ernest Lackland 
Albert L. Lowe 
Emerson Loomis 
Edward Land 
Robert E. Lee 
Walter Lawrence 
Uly Lock 
Dwight Lee 
Avon Lauderbaugh 
Oscar Lee 
Marcus Lee 
Harvey Leatherbury 
Herschel A. Lorch 
Edgar R. Licking 
Edward F. Langhorst 
Charlie E. Lock 
Thomas E. Lauderbaugh 
Ray Lockwood 
Arthur Lockwood 
Eldo Lauderbaugh 
Harry Lamson 
Hobart Lamkin 
Mike McLean 
Carroll McKay 
William Ray McKay 
Leonard McClellan 
Robert McCreary 
Clarence McKenzie 
Charlie McKenzie 
Emerson McSwain 
George McKay 
Eugene McLaughlin 
Fred Madison 
Charles Moore 
Emmett Mead 
Clarence Marksbury 
Edward L. Means 



76 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 



Peter Moll 
Ray Morrison 
Aaron Moreillion 
Henry Moreillion 
Curt Montanye 
James H. Mix 
Clifford Miller 
Joe Mead 
Jesse G. Miller 
Harry Meyer 
Clarence Moore 
Raymond Morris 
Clyde March 
Charles L. Martin 
Denver Markland 
Herman Meier 
George Miller 
Stanley Morton 
Schenck Mills 
Avon L. Miller 
Frank Mitchell 
William G. McLaughlin 
Herbert Neal 
Ben H. Neal 
Patterson S. Newbold 
Joseph A. Netherland 
Benjamin W. Niemeier 
Cleveland F. Niemeier 
Rex A. Noble 
Rae C. Noble 
Scott Osborne 
Robert Oakley 
J. Grammer Oakley 
Allan J. Oatman 
James W. Orem 
William F. Olcott 
Walter L. Osborne 
Sam Pavy 
Charles L. Petit 
John W. Pickett 
Robert Phillips 
Frank Pelsor 
Ed Potter 
Loomis Peak 
Charles E. Palmer 
George F. Piatt 



Loren Peters 
Thomas W. Pike 
Leonard W. Purcell 
Warren Peters 
McKinley Perry 
Porter Patton 
Lawrence Pickett 
Harold Patterson 
Howard Peters 
Charles Patterson 
Louis Poling 
Earl Peak 
Henry Petit 
Harvey Petit 
Edward Pickett 
Joseph Richardson 
Charlie Rogers 
Henderson Riley 
Fallis Reed 
David A. Ralston, Jr. 
Ivan E. Ricketts 
Uly E. Ricketts 
Howard E. Ryan 
Raymond Rose 
Louis F. Robison 
Jeff Rayl 
Charlie Runyan 
Earl Roberts 
Frank Reed 
Samuel D. Romans 
Herschel H. Rogers 
Edgar Ramseyer 
James F. Rook 
Howard Reed 
George N. Reeves, Jr. 
Elza Ross 
Wallace Rochat 
Paul Richter 
Zachariah Riley 
Glenn Sample 
Clair Scott 
David Sieglitz 
H. M. Smith 
Alva Shadday 
Irvin Siebert 
Amie Stepleton 



Switzerland County's Roll of Honor 



77 



William Stepleton 
Justi Shaw- 
Clyde Schoffner 
Oscar Scudder 
Raymond Scudder 
K. Shahaday 
Wesley P. Stegemiller 
Cliva Schroeder 
Harry Scott 
Harry Smith 
Ernest Satchwell 
Howard Sheldon 
Wilbur Stevenson 
Bennett Stewart 
Pryor Smith 
Loren Stoops 
Harry F. Shadday 
Hugh Shanahan 
John N. Shanahan 
Claude Siefert 
Clyde Scott 
Wilbur M. Stow 
Roy E. Scott 
Charlie C. Shelton 
Herbert M. Sigmon 
James Carl Storie 
James Scudder 
Willie L. Scott 
Lawrence J. Scudder 
Carlisle Simmons 
Baron Stow 
Arnold Smith 
Everett Scudder 
Merritt Stewart 
Allan E. Shadday 
Victor B. Shadday 
Harry Stepleton 
Colon Scott 
Gilbert Storie 
James Stewart 
Herschel Stewart 
Everett J. Scudder 
Chauncey Steele 
Robert E. Smith 
Seaver Sheldon 
Dilver Scott 



Howard Stoops 
Bert Stepleton 
Arthur Stout 
Karl M. Snyder 
Amie Slawson 
Carroll Saberton 
Charles W. Stewart 
Gerald Scudder 
Clifford Thiebaud 
Byron Tilley 
Scott Thompson 
Calvin Tompkins 
Harry S. Towers 
Harold Tardy 
William Trinkle 
Hubert Turner 
George L. Tinker 
Joe Trinkle 
Louis Teats 
John Taylor 
John C. Uhlman 
Henry C. Uhlman 
Ollie H. Uhlmansiek 
Lee Vannatter 
William C. Vandever 
Marion Williamson 
Harry Weales 
John L. Wiley 
Elmer F. White 
Chancy L. Whitham 
Loomis Wilson 
Louie Williams 
Arthur W. Wake 
Fletcher Waltz 
Ernest Wagner 
Junear Wake 
Harry Whitton 
Glen Waltz 
Elbert Wolf 
Ernest G. Waltz 
Benjamin F. Wiley 
Ray Wolf 
Marion Warner 
Joseph M. Wiseman 
Ray Wakefield 
William H. Wiley 



78 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

Beecher Weaver W. Hampton Williamson 

W. D. Wallick Will Wahl 

Porter Webster J- D. Weathers 

Warren S. Whitham Hayes Williamson 

Gary Welch Leslie Wakefield 

Oscar M. Webb Anthony Yates 

Arnold Weaver Charles Yates 



Chapter XX 
AMICK BROTHERS FIGHT SIDE BY SIDE 

Guy Amick and brother Willis, each saw ten months active service in France 
in the Sixtieth Artillery. 

The two brothers enlisted May 2, 1917, and were never separated. They 
were in the Argonne Forest from September 20th, until after the armistice was 
signed. 

They told the following story of their experiences: 

During our first night on the front there were fourteen gas alarms, and long 
before daylight we realized that old General Sherman, way back in the 60s, knew 
what he was talking about. The Americans fought like wildcats; they knew no 
such thing as fear, and no body of men on earth could have held them back. 

Some of the Switzerland county boys who have come back from the front 
have told stories of their experiences, we have heard, but no boy who ever comes 
back will be able to tell you half of the horrible things he has seen and gone 
through. 

During the St. Mihiel fighting two lieutenants and five privates were 
standing about 100 yards from our gun. A boche shell hit in their midst and all 
seven of them were simply wiped out of existence. Another day we heard a shell 
coming, and all of us fell flat on the earth. One of the boys flopped down in the 
mud and the shell hit within five feet of him. It doesn't seem possible that that 
man could have escaped being blown to atoms but after the explosion he arose 
to his feet uninjured. Five minutes later, after he realized what a close call he 
had had, he turned as white as a sheet. 

From the fifth day of September until after the armistice was signed we did 
not have our clothes off our backs. For more than two months we wore the same 
shirt, the same suit of underwear and the same pair of socks. We were filthy 
beyond description. We were in the Argonne Forest from September 20th until 
the armistice was signed. During all that time we were supposed to have two 
meals a day. Some days we got them according to schedule, other days we 
didn't. There was no such thing as water, except stagnant stuff that we dipped 
from shellholes, and which nearly always had to be boiled before we could 
drink it. 

At one place in the Argonne there was a piece of ground containing about an 
acre and in that small spot were lying the bodies of more than 200 American 
soldiers. We saw those bodies lying on top of the ground for a week, each day 
growing more putrid. It was impossible to bury them. We walked over them 
and we didn't think any more about it than if they had been pieces of wood. 



80 Switzerland County's Part in the World war 

Those dead soldiers were all from the 18th Infantry, a regiment which was 
literally wiped out half a dozen times during the war. The bodies bore mute 
evidence of the terrible fighting they had been engaged in. (Editor's Note — 
The 18th Infantry is the regiment in which John F. Butters was in all during the 
war. Hubert Turner, another Switzerland county boy, was in the same regiment 
at the time of the massacre described above.) 

Lots of people have never believed the stories telling of German barbarity, 
but when we captured Sedan we saw the results of some of it with our own eyes. 

The fall of Sedan released 15,000 French refugees. Hundreds of girls not 
more than 14 years old were carrying babies in their arms. We saw this with 
our own eyes. These girls had been made the playthings of the entire German 
army which held them. The poor things were turned over to the Allied officials 
to be cared for; they were supplied with clothing, food, etc., and the women who 
waited on them informed our officers, who in turn told the men, that every one 
of those girls had a portion of her breasts cut off. 

The American soldier has no use for the Y. M. C. A. organization. We paid 
ten cents to them for five cent packages of cigarettes and on one occasion the 
cigarettes we purchased had a card on the inside of the package which stated the 
cigarettes had been contributed by a man residing in Dallas, Texas. 

I saw a Y. M. C. A. man come up to our camp one day with a lot of news- 
papers in a Ford. He was selling the papers. One of the boys told him he didn't 
have any money and asked him for a paper. The Y. M. C. A. man refused to 
give him one. A minute later an officer walked up to him and asked him for a 
paper. The Y. M. C. A. man gave him two. 

You won't find many of the boys who have any use for the Y. M. C. A. but 
every mother's son of them will take off their hats to the Salvation Army and the 
Red Cross. Those two organizations couldn't do enough for the boys. 

There's been a whole lot of talk about camp conditions at Brest, and one or 
two big bugs went over the place hurriedly in automobiles and reported that 
conditions there were fair. 

Well, before leaving for the States we spent 28 days at Brest. There were 
times when we stood for two and one-half hours in mud over our shoe tops waiting 
for our chow. 

At Brest the investigation was under way while we were there. Here's the 
way our Senate officials were camouflaged: 

Our outfit was lined up and each man given a new suit of underwear. We 
then took a bath and donned the new suits. Before putting on the remainder of 
our clothes, we were lined up and a picture was taken of us which vould show 
the new underwear. As soon as the camera man had left the new underwear was 
taken from us and we were given back the old stuff that we had been wearing 
when we reached Brest. We heard of another outfit that was given bars of 
chocolate. The camera man took a picture of the soldiers, each fellow showing 
the chocolate, and after the picture was taken the chocolate was taken from 
the men. 

Those photographs showing the ideal treatment of U. S. soldiers at Brest, 
were sent to Washington. 






A\ 1 1 ' i 1 KA 1 II 



M(.m:t kkli.ka 





ELMER E. WHITE 



EI BRIDGE GIVEN 





DAVID A. RALSTON, JU. 



LESLIE BYRAM 






CLIVA SCHROEDER 



WILLIAM KAY MCKAY 



Chapter XXI 
JOHN F. BUTTERS ON ELEVEN BATTLE FRONTS 

I left Vevay April 17, 1917, to enlist in the army, was accepted and sent to 
Douglas, Ariz., for training along the Mexican border. I was placed in Co. M, 
18th Infantry, an old regular army outfit, and during my first week in the service 
drilled 25 hours, and each day took long hikes. From the way that outfit was 
getting into shape it was plain to see that it would be but a short time until we 
started for France. On May 26th it was whispered around that we would leave 
Camp June 1st for the coast. During the last week in May our training was 
harder than ever and a few of us youngsters who had only recently been placed 
in the outfit were sent to the rifle range for practice. 

On my first practice I was nervous and shaky, but I loaded the gun and laid 
down in the trench. I aimed at the target 300 yards away and fired, the bullet 
hitting the edge of the bull's-eye. The next two times I hit in the same spot. 
The fourth time I was a little ofi" and by that time I was more shaky than ever 
but I determined to hit that bull's-eye squarely in the center with my last shot. 
The target was resting at the foot of a hill half a mile high. I took careful aim, 
pulled the trigger and missed the whole darn hill. 

When the first of June arrived we left for the coast, embarked on a ship and 
started for France. Although we knew the German subs were keeping up a 
strict search for us, we also had the utmost confidence in the destroyers forming 
our convoy, and our faith was not misplaced. We landed safely on June 28, 
1917, and France gave us a welcome that will ever be fresh in my mind. With all 
the joyous reception accorded us, however, I couldn't keep out the feeling that 
so far as old-time friends were concerned I was alone in a strange, wonderful land. 

We were sent to a camp and rushed through the finishing touches of training. 
I slept on the floor in an old ruined mill destroyed by german shells and filled 
with noisy rats. Paris was thirty miles to the south-east and the trenches thirty 
miles to the west. When the wind blew in our direction, the great trench mortars 
were plainly heard. Only a few miles from this camp the first great battle of the 
Marne was fought. The country all about had been ruined, animals were driven 
off, crops were destroyed, peasants' homes were burned and all that the Germans 
had left behind was misery, hunger and poverty. Food was so scarce that we 
ate horse meat, but it didn't taste as bad as it sounds. Troops continually passed 
us, going to or coming from the front for periods of rest. Everybody I saw was 
in mourning and about the only color in evidence was black. France at this 
time was on her last legs, and numerous French soldiers told me that unless help 
came from the United States mighty soon France must give up. 

The terrible sights our outfit witnessed at this camp made every Yank in 



82 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

the first American army redouble his training effort so as to take his place at the 
front that much sooner. I don't believe there was a man in my regiment who 
would not gladly have laid down his life to avenge the wrong done France and 
to bring about a victory for the Allies. 

During our training period in France we were moved to several different 
camps, and I found France more beautiful every day. Her roads are the finest 
in the world. They stretch away for hundreds of miles and every foot is graded 
as smooth as cement. French customs, however, always remained queer to 
me. For instance — a very common sight was to see a fellow and his sweetheart 
walking along the street with their arms about each other. But a commoner 
sight was to see one of Uncle Sam's soldiers and some Frenchman's sweetheart 
walking along the street with their arms about each other. The customs were so 
queer that for a long time after I reached France I lived in fear that some grateful 
Frenchman would walk up to me and kiss me, but I escaped that as easily as I 
did the German bullets. 

Our training was finally over, and orders came in the summer of 1917, for 
the Americans to take over a portion of the trenches. We marched to the trenches 
under cover of darkness in a down-pour of rain and through a sea of mud. But 
notwithstanding the uncomfortableness of it every lad was happy. Preparations 
and anticipations of months were being realized; we were taking our place on 
the firing line in front of the German guns. For hours through the night our boys 
marched through the rain and mud. There was little noise; we had been cautioned 
against making any unnecessary sound, and the entire movement of troops was 
accomplished without the Germans finding it out. I went into the trench with 
a machine gun on my back. When day broke the following morning the first 
American gun was fired and Uncle Sam's soldiers had at last entered the war for 
humanity. The Germans' first line trench was but a few hundred yards away. 
Their guns kept up a constant serenade and our boys sent back shot for shot. 

I don't believe any army ever got its first baptism of fire under such severe 
conditions as did we. After taking over the trench we stood in mud almost up 
to our knees for hours at a time. The rain drenched us to the skin and a 6()-mile 
wind made our bodies as cold as ice. 

After several weeks in the trenches we were sent to a rest camp for a few 
days and then went back to the front. We were under fire so often that we soon 
became used to it and paid little heed to the rumble of the guns. Day and night 
the guns roared and it seem^ed that there was never a let-up. When the gun 
crews near me stopped for a breathing spell others a little farther away kept up 
their bombardment so that the roar and rumble went on unceasingly. 

For a long time we made no direct attack on the Germans except raiding 
parties in the night time, but finally this plan of warfare ended and we began 
taking part in the drives. By the first part of Novemiber our regiment had been 
replenished with men a number of times. By that I mean that on difi"erent oc- 
casions men had been killed or injured and that after each of these times replace- 
ments were sent to us to take the places of the boys who had gone West. 



JOHN F. BUTTERS ON ELEVEN BATTLE FRONTS 83 

About the first of November, 1917, we left the trenches again, and during 
the weeks that followed we fought in several different sectors. Some of these 
places were rather quiet, but others were lively enough to suit any man and the 
18th Infantry sure sent many a German to hell where he belonged. 

A few days before Christmas of 1917, the Germans sent their gas shells burst- 
ing over our lines. We were pretty badly scared at first, but our masks worked 
to perfection and not a man was injured. When the gas scare had passed the 
Yanks were peeved and they attacked the huns in earnest, killing scores of them. 
Several of our boys were killed and each one of them went to his death fighting 
to the last breath. Some of my comrades were wounded and those who were 
still conscious fought until they were picked up and carried to the hospital. The 
American soldier is a fighting son-of-a-gun and the boche found it out before 
we had been at the front very many weeks. We gave them a taste of American 
marksmanship which they didn't like at all. 

On supposedly quiet sectors the boys were not content to remain idle and 
let our artillery get all the glory, so scouting parties were formed and under cover 
of darkness we went over the top, crawled through the entanglements on No 
Man's Land and made our way to the German line. Occasionally a few would 
fail to return, others would come crawling in with a german prisoner or two and 
still others, bumping into a german scouting party would kill the germans and 
then succeed in reaching our line in safety. 

During the latter part of December, 1917, and In January, 1918, we did very 
little real fighting. Severe cold weather followed a four days snow, and about the 
only activity we had was cutting wood with which to keep up the fires. During 
this time a Salvation Army hut was located right at our line and all during the 
period of our inactivity they served us hot chocolate and doughnuts. By the 
word "inactivity," I don't mean that everything was quiet and peaceful — not 
by a long shot. There never was a day, I guess, that the huns didn't send shells 
over our lines and occasionally one or two of our boys would be bumped ofi". 

During that winter of 1917-1918 I was a messenger in the army, and it was 
rather a spooky job at times. While the shells were bursting with their deafening 
roar and bullets were flying, I carried messages back and forth through the 
trenches. Occasionally I had to carry the message to an officer several miles 
away, going through the trenches, then over the top, along roads, through fences, 
etc. During one scrap I was hurrying through the darkness with a message when 
a German sniper either heard me or caught a glimpse of me. At any rate that 
guy began shooting at me and I heard the bullets sing as they passed. My legs 
hadn't been given me for nothing and I sure did haul it away from the spot. 

Gas attacks became so frequent that each of us was issued two gas masks 
instead of one. If one of them went back on us then the other could be hurriedly 
adjusted. 

While we were in the trenches about the middle of February, 1918, a young- 
ster in the 18th Infantry won a medal for bravery. The huns slipped over in the 
night, got down into the trench and threw hand grenades down into the dugout 



84 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

where some of our boys were sleeping. One plucky lad slipped out of the door 
just as the Germans began throwing the bombs. He climbed out of the trench 
to one just back of the one occupied by his squad, and then that boy, (he was just 
a kid), began throwing hand grenades at the Germans. He threw two boxes of 
them and he sure got a bunch of huns. While throwing the grenades the kid 
discovered one of his Lieutenants coming down the trench to take part in the 
scrap. As one of the Germans started to bayonet the Lieutenant from behind, 
the kid threw his 45 at a level and pulled the trigger. Mr. boche dropped and 
the Lieutenant's life was saved. The kid was the only American in his squad to 
escape. The others were killed or captured The youngster was cited for bravery 
and shortly afterward was decorated. 

On March 1, 1918, after we had been in the trenches for 26 days, we left 
for a brief rest. When we went back to the trenches I was placed in a machine 
gun company of the same outfit I had been with since leaving the States. Shortly 
afterward we started for the Picardy plains, where the fighting had grown in 
volume. We hiked hour after hour until I got dizzy and my body cried out 
against the torture, but the column tramped, tramped, tramped, and I managed 
to stick with them, although lots of fellows dropped exhausted by the wayside. 
The fighting on the Picardy front was terrible, but the spirit of the American 
soldiers shown in this battle proved to the Allies that there could be no doubt 
as to the outcome of the war. I saw young fellows minus a foot or hand, others 
gassed or otherwise injured, hobbling to a first aid station unassisted and waving 
away the brave Red Cross lads telling them — "There are others that need you 
worse" — then grit their teeth and hobble on. 

On this front my chum was gassed and sent back to the hospital. Once 
before this he had been shot while he and I were fighting side by side. He had 
only been back with us a short time when we hiked to the Picardy front. After 
taking treatment for the gas, however, he recovered and returned to the Company. 
His name is Warren S. Davis and he came from Connersville. I met him in St. 
Louis while on my way to the Douglas, Ariz., camp, and we bunked together 
from that moment on. 

It seems like now that all during the spring and summer of 1918 they just 
kept us hiking all over France. We'd get to one battle front where the Allies 
were making a brave stand, and after we'd been there a short time and had 
turned the tide of battle into a retreat of the huns, then we'd get orders to hurry 
to some other front. It was an awful life filled with thousands of hardships. In 
the trenches sometimes we had to wade through water up to our waists. We 
slept in the mud, and oftentimes some of us would go hungry because the trench 
rats had carried off our bacon and hardtack. But suffering didn't stop the 
Americans. Our boys just continued to plug along and we whipped the Germans 
every time we went up against them. 

During the month of July, 1917, one Saturday morning we received orders 
to hike to Soissons to the aid of the Allies. We started on Saturday at noon, and 
we marched until 5:30 Monday evening on two meals consisting of corned "willie" 



JOHN F. BUTTERS ON ELEVEN BATTLE FRONTS 85 

and hardtack. In all that march, day and night, we stopped only long enough to 
eat our two meals and feed the horses and mules. But what that march of the 
1st division did for the huns is history now, so there is no use to go into detail. 
We took the Germans by surprise and when we hit their line what we did to them 
was a plenty. 

During the summer of 1917 my duties were changed for a while, and I drove 
a chow wagon along the line in the night carrying food to the boys. At times I 
would have to drive for ten or fifteen kilometers on soil the Germans had just 
lost, and the roads and fields would be filled with bodies of dead Germans. 

On July 18, 1917, we fought one of the hardest battles United States troops 
ever engaged in. We went up against the Prussian Guards near Soissons and we 
simply tore their army to pieces. The fight lasted for days and every foot of the 
huns' retreat was marked by a bitter struggle. The slaughter of the Germans is 
past description, but on the other hand our victory was dearly paid for. Ac- 
quaintances in my Company fell all about me. My chum and a Lieutenant were 
a little ahead of the squad when they spied several huns in a shell hole. Four of 
them threw up their hands. The three others jumped for a machine gun but 
Davy got 'em before they got to it. A short time afterward my chum disappeared 
from my side, and for weeks I was under the impression that he had been killed, 
but I afterward learned he had been wounded and that he recovered. During 
the war Davy was wounded nine different times. Our outfit captured hundreds 
of prisoners and large numbers of guns and other war material. During some 
part of this battle a piece of shrapnel buried itself in my gas mask, and that is 
the nearest I ever came to being injured. 

In one of the little towns in the Rheims-Soissons fighting, I had a brief rest 
period. I knew Irvin Furnish, of Vevay, was located on a hill nearby, firing one 
of the heavy guns, so I went over to see him. I had a headache, though, and 
after staying with him a few minutes, during which time I told him what house 
I would sleep in that night, I went back to my temporary quarters. During the 
afternoon I was lying down in the cellar of the house when one of the German six- 
inch shells struck the roof of the house and tore it up quite a bit. I was badly 
shook up but not injured, and a short time after, Irvin, relieved from his gun for 
a few hours, came to the house to see me. When he discovered the house had 
been wrecked by a shell, but that I was uninjured, he said, "John, I'm going back 
and give Heine hell for coming so close to you." In about ten minutes I heard 
the "boom-bang" from his gun, and I felt that a friend in need is a friend indeed. 

A short time before the armistice was signed we were sent to the Argonne 
Forest, and there we experienced the most terrible fighting of the war. Machine 
guns belched a murderous fire until the barrels were all but melted. Soldiers, 
dying and dead, covered the ground in all directions. Loose legs and arms were 
no uncommon sight. Dead horses and mules dotted the earth and pools of blood 
formed on the ground. Our casualties ran into the thousands but the germans 
by this time had enough and they retreated so fast that at times we couldn't 
keep up with them. 



86 Switzerland County's Part in the World war 

During the fighting in the Argonne the shelling became so heavy that I 
crawled into a shell hole. A Yank was lying in the hole dead. His Bible was 
tightly grasped in his hands and it was opened at the book of St. John. On 
another occasion I found a dead American soldier holding a small American flag 
in his hand and his bowed head was leaning over so that his lips touched the flag 
for which he had given his life. 

On June 28, 1917, when we landed in France, there were 200 men in my 
Company. On November 11, 1918, the day the war came to an end, there were 
only 20 of us left, the remainder of the Company being composed of replacement 
troops. The 180 missing were sleeping their last sleep in the Argonne and under 
the sod of eleven battle fields in sunny France. 

After the armistice was signed our outfit started immediately for Germany. 
We hiked all the way and it took us fifteen days to get to Luxemburg. We 
paraded in the capital and the pretty young queen presented General Pershing 
with a big bunch of flowers. The towns we passed through on our march to the 
Rhine had been under German rule for four years and the inhabitants were sure 
glad to see the Yanks. Old men tipped their caps, women wept with joy and 
children sang as we marched along. We entered Germany on December 1, 1918. 

Briefly, the record of the first division is as follows: We were the first or- 
ganized, the first over, the first in the trenches, the first to lose a man, the first 
to fire on the enemy, the first to capture a hun and the first army. We lost more 
men than any other division. We captured the first town taken by the American 
Expeditionary Forces — Cantigny. We were in the trenches more than any other 
division, and we were the center thrust in the drive that ended the war in the 
Argonne Forest. 

Following is a brief summary of the activities I engaged in, and a record of 
the First Division: 

The first P. C. of the division was established at St. Nazaire on June 28, 
1917. Up to the end of the war an even half hundred headquarters and P. C's 
were occupied, covering the training area, Lorraine, the Vosges, Picardy, the 
Meuse-Argonne, Verdun and various other sectors, and the occupation of Ger- 
many. From October 21 to November 20, 1917, we were in the Vosges. One 
prisoner was captured. Our losses were 2 men killed and 1 officer and 42 men 
wounded and 11 men missing. 

From January 15 to April 3, 1918, was in the Ansanville sector with the 
French. We captured 10 prisoners. Our losses were officers killed, 5; men, 511. 
Wounded, officers, 26; men 251. Missing, men, 19. 

From Lorraine the division went to Picardy and occupied the Montdidier 
sector from April 25 to July 7, 1918. During this period the first American 
offensive was put on and the village of Cantigny was captured. 285 prisoners 
were taken. Our losses were: killed, officers, 39; men, 804. Wounded, 
officers, 134; men, 4,338. Missing, officers, 2; men, 63. 

After our relief from this sector, together with the 1st Moroccan Division of 
the French and the 2nd American Division, we started the offensive which cul- 



JOHN F. BUTTERS ON ELEVEN BATTLE FRONTS 87 

minated in the armistice of November 11th. This offensive took place south of 
Soissons and was directed at the heights south of the city and the two main roads- 
leading from the city — the first to Paris and the second to Chateau-Thierry. We 
captured 3,500 prisoners, 75 field pieces, 50 T' M's and much other materiaL 
Our losses were: Killed, officers, 74; men, 1,178. Wounded, officers, 196; men, 
4,949. Missing, officers, 15; men, 1,528. 

Following Soissons we returned to Lorraine and occupied the Saizarais 
sector from August 7 to August 24. We captured 6 prisoners. Our losses were: 
Killed, men 2. Wounded, 14, and missing 5. 

Next came the St. Mihiel operation, during which we attacked two days. 
We captured 1,195 prisoners and our losses were: Killed, officers, 2; men, 72. 
Wounded, officers, 9; men, 309. Men missing, 80. 

You will notice that we did not take prisoners very often. 

We entered the Argonne battle when it was necessary to go to the relief of 
the badly shattered 35th Division. We held the line four days with inadequate 
artillery support, waiting for the 1st Artillery Brigade to get up. The preliminary 
losses were heavy. During the action that followed we took 1,407 prisoners. 
Our losses were: Killed, officers, 35; men, 816. Wounded, officers, 132; men, 
5,586. Missing, officers, 10; men, 1,705. 

We advanced 7 kilometers against desperate resistance and met and defeated 
8 good German divisions. 

By the action of the First Division in this battle the Argonne was turned 
from what at best would have been a check, and might have been a partial defeat, 
to a splendid victory. The troops on either side of us being able to advance when 
we had broken the huns' resistance. 

In the last action of the war we went into the relief of the 80th Division and 
on November 6th attacked in the direction of the Meuse. Later followed the 
celebrated march to Sedan when the Division, in the face of hostile fire, marched 
across the fronts of the 77th and 42nd Divisions, sweeping away the resistance 
that had stopped the two divisions in the afternoon. During the two days 
and nights of these two operations we captured 65 prisoners. Our losses were: 
Killed, officers, 2; men, 66. Wounded, officers, 20; men 834. Missing, officers, 
3; men, 164. 

Our total casualties in the campaign were officers, 715; men, 23,259. Total 
prisoners captured by us, 6,469. Total advanced against the enemy (not counting 
the advance to Sedan and several minor advances in which only a small portion 
of the Division was engaged), 51 kilometers. Figured on the basis that some 
divisions in the A. E. F. followed our total advance was in excess of 70 kilometers, 
thus placing our division first. I might add that we were first in everything 
but returning. 



Chapter XXII 
ULY BUTTERS FIGHTS WITH BRITISH 

Accompanied by 25 Switzerland county boys, one of whom is now resting 
in Vevay's city of the dead, and four of whom made the supreme sacrifice in 
France, I left Vevay September 22, 1917, for Camp Taylor. We remained there 
until in March, 1919, when we were split up into different outfits and sent to 
Camp Sevier, S. C. We were there but a short time when we entrained for the 
East, leaving Hoboken, N. J., May 11, 1918. 

Until our voyage was nearly over the trip was uneventful, but on Sunday 
night. May 26, a submarine attacked us. The chasers convoying us gave chase 
and dropped depth bombs and nothing more was seen or heard of the sub. 

We landed at Liverpool, England, at noon on May 27, and went from there 
to Dover. Without losing any time we crossed the English Channel to Calais, 
France. While we were camped near the city two or three German aeroplanes 
passed over camp and dropped bombs on Calais. Anti-aircraft guns fired on them, 
but the bombers finished their mission and then returned safely to their own lines. 
At Calais we were signed over to the Second British Army Corps and were issued 
British Shortlee Infield rifles. 

From Calais we were sent to Laughes, where we received machine gun in- 
struction, and then we were sent to Belgium. 

We went into the Ypres sector alongside the Scotch Highlanders on July 
4th, supporting the British army. We were the first American troops to enter 
Belgium. In this sector things were rather quiet, and in expectation of a German 
drive we built thousands of yards of trenches and wire construction. 

Our first drive began on August 31 at which time we advanced 1,500 yards 
captured 15 prisoners, two machine guns and 35 rifles. 

On September 5th we were drawn from this sector and placed in the British 
reserve, and we were then trained in attacking in conjunction with British tanks. 

They began moving us forward on September 17th, and we all knew there 
would be something doing before many more days. On September 22nd we were 
moved to the British Fourth Army, and on the night of September 23-24 we took 
over a front line sector on the Somme from the 1st Australian Division. 

At 5:30 o'clock on the morning of September 29th we went over the top on 
a front of 3,000 yards and drove straight at the Hindenburg line. The spot where 
we attacked was considered impregnable. The entire territory was filled with 
under-ground tunnels, the tunnels being electrically lighted. There were dug- 
outs thirty feet deep in the ground, and it did look like no army on earth could 




MISS MAY SHANAHAN 







MISS I.OriSE SCIIKOEDEK 






CLAUDE H. COTTON 



ROBERT PHILLIPS 



Uly Butters Fights With British 89 

capture the line at that point. On our left in the drive was an American division. 
On our right was a British division. 

This drive was on the morning of the heavy fog. Men became lost from 
their companies and fought alongside total strangers. Machine gun fire mowed 
British and Americans down by the hundreds, but we swept on. We fought un- 
til October2nd, advancing 4,200 yards, capturing eight cities, defeating two enemy 
divisions, and taking prisoners 47 officers and 1,434 men. On October 2nd we 
were relieved by the 5th Australian Division and moved to the back area at 
Herbecourt, but we had scarcely reached there until we were ordered back and 
we took over the front line in the same sector on the night of October 4th. 

On October 8, 9, 10 and 11 we attacked each day, continually forcing the 
Germans back. During the four days we advanced 17,500 yards and captured 
35 towns and cities. We took prisoners 45 officers and 1,889 men. 

On October 11th we were relieved by the 27th division but returned to the 
front on October 16th. The following day we launched a new attack which con- 
tinued for three days. In this drive we advanced 9,000 yards, captured six 
towns and took prisoners 6 officers and 412 men. The latter part of October we 
were withdrawn for a much needed rest, and while at Division Headquarters at 
Querrieu the armistice was signed. 

I know of no particular German that I killed, although I probably got my 
share. I was in a machine gun squad of seven men that must have killed scores 
of huns. 

At times I operated the gun myself and I just turned her into the German 
line and let her go. We would fire the gun until we had the huns cleaned out in 
front of us, then we would run forward as much as possible, place the gun and 
open up on them again. 

Towns in the Ypres sector were simply torn to pieces by German shell fire 
and bombs. In some towns there was not a building of any description left 
standing, just miles of debris. 

A French soldier who had been a prisoner of the Germans showed me one 
day what they did to him. While he was in their hands he said that every day 
they beat his left ankle with a sort of lever and they continued torturing him 
that way until his foot had been beaten off his leg. 



Chapter XXIII 
HOWARD P. BURTON RETURNS FR0A4 THE DEAD 

I enlisted in the Marine Corps at Louisville, May 7, 1917. Was sent to 
Paris Island, S. C, where I trained for six weeks, then went to Quantico, Va. 
Remained there until September 6th, then went to Philadelphia and boarded 
the U. S. S. Henderson on September 14th. After an uneventful voyage of nine 
days we disembarked at St. Nazaire, France, on September 23, 1917. 

Was located at St. Nazaire several weeks then my battalion went to another 
training camp where we were instructed in trench digging, trench warfare and all 
kinds of drills. 

About the first of February, 1918, we went to the Verdun front. The work 
there consisted of patrols and raiding parties principally, there not being much 
fighting on account of the rain and mud. Of course, we were shelled occasionally, 
but after a time we got so we didn't pay much attention to a little thing like that. 
While on this sector eleven of us went on a raiding trip to the hun trenches one 
night. We waited until way along in the night when you couldn't see your hand 
before your eyes and then slipped over the top. We took a section of the huns' 
trench by surprise and, just about as quick as it takes to tell it, we bagged eleven 
prisoners, one for each man, and started back to our lines where we arrived safely. 

After spending several months on the Verdun front we left for the Lorraine 
front, where we expected to get some real action. We arrived there in April and 
found about the same kind of conditions that had existed on the Verdun sector. 
We remained there for several weeks and neither army made a direct drive in 
all that time. The artillery boys wxre about the only ones that got any action, 
and all we had to do was to hold ourselves in readiness for gas attacks which 
the Germans made occasionally. 

During the latter part of May we got word that the Germans had started for 
Paris and each day they were steadily forcing the French soldiers back. In an 
almost forlorn hope we were rushed to Chateau-Thierry to help stop the drive. 

On June 1st we went into action at Belleau Wood. The French were in 
front of us, dog tired, and in a state of collapse. Gallant fighters, they had gone 
their limit, however, and the odds were too great for them. For several days they 
held on, retreating step by step, and fearing to turn the line over to the American 
marines. When our commander informed them that his boys were going to take 
the line over anyhow they gave up although it was really against their will. 
They thought the Americans could not withstand the onslaught of the hun 
hordes, and they believed that Paris was doomed. 

On June 6th the French retreated through our lines and went to the rear for 



HOWARD P. BURTON RETURNS FROM THE DEAD 91 

a period of rest, and then the big scrap started in earnest. The Germans charged 
and we sent them back reeling. They came back and we drove them off again. 
We fought continuously for days trying to do nothing but hold our own. We 
forgot the habits of a lifetime; thought nothing of leaving our clothes on day 
after day and of eating a bite only now and then when the chance offered. We 
were there to save Paris and also to show the French that Americans could scrap 
a little, too, if the occasion arose. 

On June 11th a German three-inch cannon located in a hole in the ground, 
and surrounded by machine guns, began playing havoc with our line. The can- 
non was firing directly into our midst on a straight line, and marines were falling 
everywhere. The big gun was planted in rocks and camouflaged with bushes. 
If it had remained there much longer entire companies would have been wiped 
out. Lieut M. C. Overton was ordered to take a platoon of 47 men and capture 
the cannon. When the word to charge was given we jumped to our feet and 
began running, firing our rifles as we ran. We circled the spot where the cannon 
and machine guns were concealed and then every man dashed toward the cannon. 
We didn't take any prisoners, either. There were eight machine gun crews 
besides the three-Inch gun's crew, and we killed every man of them. Six of our 
own men were killed In the charge, (The cannon mentioned here was afterward 
sent to the United States and Is now located at Washington. On It are engraved 
the names of each of the 47 men who captured It.) 

For days uncountable we fought continuously. We lost track of time and 
each man fought for himself. When we became so exhausted that we couldn't 
go forward another step we dug shallow holes In the ground and dropped Into 
them for brief rests. At nights, in some unknown manner, food was sent to us, 
but occasionally the fighting was so heavy that we would not have a bite to eat 
nor a drop of water in two or three days' time. 

However, we had the Germans on the run, and we kept right after them head- 
ing closer and closer to Chateau-Thierry. We were paying dearly for our victory, 
however, and at one time during the battle there were only eighteen men left In 
our platoon. Without a pause in the fighting we drove the Germans back all 
along the line until June 24th when the third American division relieved us and 
we went back to a rest camp. 

While resting up, Parisians began planning a great Fourth of July celebration 
in honor of the Americans. Our commanders picked twenty men out of each 
company and sent them to Paris to take part In the parade. There were about 
480 marines in the parade and I was lucky enough to be one of them. If you 
could have seen that parade you would have thought Paris people had gone 
crazy. Every citizen had procured a bouquet of flowers and when the marines 
came In sight at points along the line the flowers were strewn In the street for 
us to walk on. We literally walked over a cushion of flowers all the way. The 
crowd shouted "Long live Americans," and they cheered us until I actually blush- 
ed. After the parade they gave a banquet for the marines and following the 
banquet they escorted us to various places of Interest In Paris. 



92 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

We went back to the rest camp where our ranks were filled with replace- 
ments, and on July 17th we were rushed to Soissons. On the morning of the 
18th we went over the top and fought until it was too dark to see. By night we 
had the Germans retreating as usual. At four o'clock on the morning of the 19th 
we started after them again. Our outfit had to cross an open field and then drive 
the Germans out of a woods. That woods was literally alive with Germans, and 
in crossing the field they almost wiped our company out of existence. About 
eight o'clock in the morning a machine gun bullet passed through the fleshy 
part of my leg. I saw that it was nothing serious, bandaged it up and kept on 
going. About ten o'clock we had advanced to within 100 yards of the woods and 
at that moment pieces of shrapnel struck me in the face and right arm. The 
piece of metal that entered my face passed through my upper lip, tore out three 
teeth, cut a chunk out of my tongue and lodged in the back part of my throat. 
The other piece tore the muscles loose in my arm, cut an artery in two and mashed 
the bone to splinters. 

I couldn't go any farther but what few boys were left in my outfit kept on 
and took the woods. When they finally put the huns to rout Lieut. Overton and 
four men were the only ones left in my platoon and Lieut. Overton was the only 
officer left in the company. 

For a short time my wounds did not pain me very much, there being only a 
stinging sensation. I tried to get back to the first aid but owing to the loss of 
blood from the wound in my arm I couldn't make it. A man named Todd, from 
Tennessee, who was a member of my platoon, came hobbling along shot through 
the leg. He could hardly drag himself but he stopped and helped me bandage 
my arm and then he went on back. He said he'd tell the stretcher bearers to 
come after me but they must have missed me for I laid there until four o'clock 
the next morning before they finally found me. 

I was rushed to Base Hospital 27, where I was unconscious for two days. 
When I came to my arm was tied above my head to hold it in position, and they 
kept it that way for six weeks. It wasn't very pleasant but I was in an American 
hospital where the nurses were all Americans, and they cheered me as much as 
possible. When I could talk I had a nurse write a letter home telling the folks I 
was better. I was finally sent to Base No. 8 where I remained till I started 
for the States on September 12th. Lieut. Overton, whom Switzerland county 
people read about in the Vevay papers, was killed in the Argonne Forest Sep- 
tember 26th, being shot through the heart. 

Howard P. Burton's experience in the war was more remarkable than that 
of any other Switzerland county man. In July, 1918, his parents received the 
following letter of praise from Lieut. M. C. Overton: 

"It is a pleasure to me to censor a letter one of my boys has written to his 
mother, for I know every mother back in the dear old U. S. A. is worried about 
her boy in France. I take pleasure in telling you. Airs. Burton, that you have a 
noble boy. His work the last ten days has been strenuous, under heavy artillery 



Howard p. Burton returns from the Dead 93 

fire from the enemy, and very dangerous, but your son braved it all. His work 
has been very faithful and his duties, although very dangerous, have been done 
honorably. Don't worry! I will take very good care of your boy as long as he 
is in my command. His deeds and record the last ten days have brought much 
honor and praise to me as well as himself." 

Three weeks later on August 7th, Burton's parents received the following 
telegram from the war department: 

"Deeply regret to inform you cablegram from abroad advises that private 
Howard Burton, marine corps, was killed in action July 19th. Body will be in- 
terred abroad until end of war. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy in your 
great loss. Your son nobly gave his life in the service of his country. — George 
Barnett, Major General Commander." 

The news of Burton's death swept through Switzerland county like wildfire. 
The story of how he had assisted in putting the Germans to rout at Belleau Wood 
had been published in a Vevay newspaper, and all citizens in the county had 
been singing his praises. Never before had the people been so shocked as on the 
day the official notice of the young man's death was received. The entire 
county mourned and citizens of nearby cities, who also had learned of his brave 
deeds, mourned also when they heard of his death. 

The Vevay Chautauqua was in session the day the heart-breaking message 
was received. That night the Court House bell, the fire bells and the church 
bells were tolled in honor of the dead hero. A musical attraction at the Chau- 
tauqua rendered sacred selections. Private Peat, a returned Canadian soldier, 
referred to his "going West" in a lecture. At the conclusion of the program 
Judge Griffith informed the immense audience of the young man's death and 
recited the story of his bravery. Rev. W. T. Dart read the letter from Burton's 
commander to his mother and then more than 1200 persons stood with bowed 
heads while the minister prayed to God for the taking Home of the hero's soul, 
and for peace to come to the bereaved family. 

On August 17th the county was electrified by news that Burton was alive. 
A letter written in a strange hand had been received by his mother, saying he was 
alive and in a hospital. It was signed with the young man's name. 

The parents dared not hope the message could be true. Friends interested 
in the case notified Senators Watson and New at Washington and they in turn 
sent cables to France. The family were in suspense several weeks longer until 
further letters were received from the young man, when tears gave way to re- 
joicing. 

After reaching the States, Burton was sent to Washington, D. C, where 
he remained for many months taking treatment for his arm of which he never 
entirely recovered its full use. 



Chapter XXIV 
LESLIE BYRAM SAVED BY GERMAN PRISONERS 

Our voyage across the ocean which, at the time, seemed the most important 
event in my life, today seeps through my mind as an incident hardly worthy of 
mention. We landed safely, were cheered by the British, drilled for days at a 
camp, and after our commanders felt that we were "fit," took our place on the 
Belgian front. 

On August 28, 1918, about thirty Switzerland county boys who trained at 
Camp Taylor, Ky., were thrown in, with their regiments, to help stop the enemy's 
advance. It was our first time under fire and while I am not saying anything 
about how the rest of the boys felt, I'll never forget my own feelings, and I won't 
attempt to describe them. Any man who has ever been "over the top" will 
understand just what I mean. 

More than 90 Allied airplanes darted through the sky swinging around 
the enemy line, sending back information to our artillery and dropping death 
and destruction in all directions. The enemy's artillery and their airmen made 
frantic efforts to beat off the allied planes. They failed, and we boys on foot, 
firing round after round of "steel jackets," drove the opposing army back several 
kilometers. 

Following this battle we had a brief rest, but late in September we were 
sent to the Flanders front with the British army, facing the Hindenburg line. 
This was at Bellecourt. The battle was much the same as the one in Belgium, 
except that we were facing the cream of the german army. All efforts to stop 
the advance of the huns had previously failed and Paris, although a good many 
miles away, was in danger. 

On the night of September 28, 1918, our plans were made for an attack the 
next morning. Before daylight on the morning of the 29th our artillery laid 
down a perfect barrage and the two armies, British and American, began their 
advance. In the face of murderous fire we waded into that great German army 
and started them backwards. Every foot of ground we gained, however, was 
dearly paid for, as bodies of our comrades literally covered the earth. 

Covered with blood and dirt, our clothes torn, and fighting for hours with 
no thought of food or rest, we carried out our plans and broke the Hindenburg 
line, forcing the Germans back several miles. 

When the fighting has subsided a roll-call was held to learn each company's 
casualties. Oscar Scudder, of East Enterprise, had been killed during the battle. 
One of his comrades reported having seen him fall. Ermon Brown, of Patriot, 
was missing. He was in my company and not one of us remembered having seen 



Leslie Byram Saved by German Prisoners 95 

him after we had gotten into the thick of the fight. I believed him dead and 
was heartsick at the thought that two of the boys I trained with at Camp Taylor 
had given up their lives. You may imagine my surprise months later when I 
was in a New York hospital and ran squarely into Emory. He had been badly 
wounded, picked up by stretcher bearers and taken to a camp hospital. 

We had no rest following the battle of September 29th and on October 8th 
and again on October 17th took part in the battles at Cambrai and St. Quentin. 

Like the previous battles, these were fought in the same manner and with 
the same results. Preceded by artillery fire, scores of airplanes in the sky, and 
tanks crawling along like fabled monsters, their guns mowing lanes through the 
German columns, we continually advanced, but each minute brought its share of 
casualties to the Allies. 

On the morning of October 17th, the last drive in which I participated was 
started. The Germans were on the opposite side of a river from us. In the face 
of a murderous fire the engineers bridged the stream and the doughboys charged 
across. German artillery had the range and explosive shells were dropping all 
around us. 

The horrible looking tanks succeeded in crossing the river and made straight 
at the German line. The din of battle became one continuous roar. I was ad- 
vancing a few feet behind a tank, my gun spitting "steel jackets" into the German 
horde. 

And then I fell. 

A piece of high explosive shell had got me. A fountain of blood spurted from 
my right arm and in the first moment of my injury I realized the artery had been 
severed. I tried to arise on my feet but fell back on the ground. Ten feet from 
me another shell hit and threw up tons of earth. Wriggling along on my stomach 
I crawled into the hole to die. 

Another one of the boys who had fallen close beside me, saw me crawling 
into the hole. Although badly wounded himself, he crawled to me and examined 
my wound. He took the string off my gas mask and tied it tight about my arm, 
stopping the flow of blood. For hours I laid there, weak from loss of blood, but 
still conscious. I saw scores of tanks and thousands of American troops cross the 
stream and wade into the Germans. 

A few feet to one side of me a big American tank was crawling steadily to- 
ward the Germans' line, her gunner pumping a continuous stream of leaden hail 
into the huns. I marveled at the bravery of the occupants of that tank, and 
then right before my eyes a monster shell struck the tank squarely and it was 
blown to pieces. 

Overhead our airplanes kept up their good work. I saw an allied plane dash 
after a hun and lying on my back I watched the battle. They maneuvered for 
position, the hun was outwitted and a bullet brought his plane crashing to the 
earth. 



96 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

Far in the distance floated one of the Germans' observation balloons, but it 
was shot down in less time than it takes to tell it. 

The huns, outclassed, fell back before the advance. 

The army fought on out of my sight and the roar of battle gradually lessened 
as the fighting became further and further away. And then I saw doughboys 
coming to the rear with prisoners. One American soldier came close to where I 
was lying. At the point of a bayonet he was marching four German prisoners to 
the rear. He caught sight of me, saw that I lived, and ordered the prioners to 
pick me up. And thus I was carried back to the first aid station. 

Army surgeons who were specialists in private life operated on my arm. 
At first they thought it would have to be amputated, but they decided to try 
an operation and see if they could save it. Following the operation I was taken 
to an English hospital. There I received the best of care and in December I was 
taken on board the Red Cross ship, Saxone, and landed at New York City on 
December 26, 1918. 

I was at Debarkation Hospital No. 3 for fourteen days, and during my stay 
there ran on to Ermon Brown, of Patriot. I was sent to General Hospital 25, 
Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Ind., on January 12, 1919. 

After a person has read this account of my service in France he, no doubt, 
will ask himself the question if I ever killed any German soldiers. And I can't 
tell him. Suffice it to say that I fired hundreds of "steel jackets" at the boches 
and I hurled my share of hand grenades into their midst. I honestly don't know 
if I killed a German outright, but if I didn't get my share of them, then there 
undoubtedly was something wrong with Uncle Sam's ammunition. 




OSCAR SCUDDER 





HENRY MOREILLION 




CHARLES L. KENT 



ID. W. DODD 





LEE VANXATTER 



REX NOBLE 





BERT STAPLETOX 



EDDIE BURMAX 



Chapter XXV 

ERMON BROWN CAPTURES GERMAN CAPTAIN AND TEN 

PRIVATES 

There is no use in telling over and over again the humdrum life I spent 
in United States army camps, so I will begin my story on May 11, 1918, the day 
on which we embarked from New York to take our places alongside the armies 
of the Allies. 

In the spring of 1918 American people did not know that American brains 
had practically solved the submarine problem, and when several thousand of us 
went aboard the big transport which carried us to England we, too, were unaware 
Df it. 

Hundreds of the soldiers were seasick for several days, and judging from 
Appearances it muct have been a terrible feeling. I guess at that time if a sub. 
had popped up alongside of us those seasick boys would hardly have paid much 
attention to it. Those first few days on board were the hardest, but at frequent 
intervals our band played and this livened us up to a great extent. 

Finally the day arrived when we were told that we were in the submarine 
zone and that our chasers would soon be with us to conduct us safely across. 
We watched with anxious eyes until the following morning just at daybreak we 
saw in the distance the signals and soon we counted several chasers that had 
come to escort us across the danger zone. 

While crossing this zone during the night two submarines attacked us, but 
their torpedoes went wild and instantly the chasers, running around like mad 
things, began dropping depth bombs. We were very much excited and really 
didn't know what the commotion was until our Lieutenant and the ship's captain 
told us to rest easy, that it was only the depth bombs. 

On another occasion at midnight we were lost from the other ships in the 
convoy and were in suspense until miorning when we ran into a place called 
"Devil's Hole." The ship began whirling round and round like a stick in a whirl- 
pool, and we learned the rudder was broken. Huge waves broke over her bow 
and flooded the decks. The situation looked terrible and the boys were fearful 
that the ship was going to sink. Finally the ship was straightened out, however, 
and at noon of that day we caught up with the battle cruiser and fell into line. 

Naturally, after escaping from, what we had feared meant disaster, we were 
feeling fine and the band boys began playing their liveliest airs. As the noise of 
the music floated out over the water a ship in front of us signaled back, "If you 
fellows want to see land you had better stop that damned band." From that 
moment on the remainder of the voyage was uneventful and on the 27th day of 
May we landed at Dover. 



98 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

From there we crossed the English Channel on a light cruiser, landing at 
Calais, and it was there that we experienced our first bombarding. We took 
training from British officers who had gained their experience at the front, and 
our outfit was attached to the British army. 

In my company from Switzerland county were Leslie Byram and Uly But- 
ters. In the same regiment but in other companies were Charlie Griswold, Ed- 
ward L. Means and a number of others. 

After being attached to the British army we hiked into Belgium, marching 
always at night and resting in the day in barns and tents. Thus we saw very 
few of the inhabitants. Very seldom did I see a woman as we marched through 
that ruined country. Belgium was so full of spies that we were hardly allowed 
to talk to our own men. 

We finally reached the front and for several days were stationed just back 
of the lines. Our work then consisted of patroling, trench warfare and bayonet 
practice. 

As soon as our officers thought we were fit we relieved the Scots Division, 
took our place in the front lines and held the place for several days. 

Out in front of our lines two of our observation balloons were floating high 
in the skv one day when a German airplane swooped down suddenly upon them. 
The Intelligence Officers jumped for safety, coming to earth on parachutes, and 
in no time at all the airman had fired bullets into the balloons set them on fire so 
that they collapsed almost instantly, and then had returned safely to his own line. 

We experienced little activity on this front and had begun to think that the 
front lines were not as bad as they had been pictured. And then, about the time 
such thoughts as those were forming in my mind we were relieved and sent into 
support. Then and there we found out what activity meant; the deadliness of 
the German high explosive shells and how the barrage worked. The Jerrys sure 
did put over some hot steel on us, but there was never a time when our artillery 
didn't send back ten shells to jerry's one. When the shelling became heavier 
than any we had yet experienced my sergeant and a private were killed and 
several of the boys in our company were wounded. I helped carry the boys back 
to the first aid and gained my first knowledge of stretcher bearing. 

We held our positions for twelve or fourteen days, then were sent back to a 
rest camp. Later we were sent into support of the front line several times, and 
on these occasions we built barbed wire entanglements in front of the lines. 

During this period our cook wagon was as near us as it could get on account 
of the shelling. The huns probably knew from experience that a soldier must 
eat or he can't fight, so they continually tried to destroy our kitchens. Long 
range guns tried for those cook wagons all the time. One day our cooks told us 
if we would pick some Belgium beans they would cook them for us. Belgium 
beans! Heavens, what a treatl And how us boys picked beans. But the cooks 
didn't have any salt and those beans, while they filled, were not so desirable 
after all. 



E. Brown Captures German Captain and lo Privates 99 

We were called back to the front lines and the sergeant, one corporal, two 
privates and myself were selected for duty between the lines. Our officers wanted 
information as to the location of machine guns, trench mortars, etc. 

Our commander called us before him and instructed us not to fire a gun unless 
it became absolutely necessary. And then, when darkness had settled over the 
earth like a blanket, the dense blackness broken occasionally by rockets and 
bursting shells, we left our line and crawled out into No Man's Land. We made 
our way safely to a shell hole and very carefully camouflaged the hole with rail- 
road ties. Then for six days and six nights we laid hour after hour in that hole 
watching, watching, watching. 

What few words spoken were said in whispers. Each night our comrades 
crawled to us with food and water. Before those six days and nights were up it 
seemed to me like I had been lying in that hole for fifty years. But finally our 

work brought results. From its place of concealment we located one of the huns' 
trench mortars which had snuffed out the lives of many of our men. We signaled 
the exact location to our artillery, a barrage was sent over and the mortar and 
the soldiers near it were blown to pieces. 

In addition to bringing satisfactory results our six days spent in No Man's 
Land brought us some undesirable company. Some lousy hun had been in that 
shell hole before us and when we came out of it and went back to a rest camp we 
were accompanied by some two or three million cooties, and those little devils 
didn't give us any chance to forget them either. 

After that I tried hard to avoid those shell holes and unoccupied trenches, 
for Jerry had left them filled with lice, but at times the bursting shells and bullets 
were so thick that all of us had to seek safety in those places to keep from being hit. 

We were taken from this front and sent south in box cars. An unofficial 
rumor spread among us that we were going to the American sector and joy filled 
our hearts. 

We left the cars and, at six o'clock in the evening, we were ordered to pack 
our packs. Not knowing where we were going, but hoping it would not be far, 
we began hiking. We went two or three miles and were then crowded on motor 
trucks. We traveled until three the next morning and before we got out of the 
trucks we heard the report of guns and saw the glare of rockets and bursting 
shells. 

Finally we stopped, unloaded, lined up and awaited orders. The commander 
said: "Boys, the Germans have been driven back from this place about fourteen 
days and the place is full of mines. Do not pick up anything and be careful how 
you walk." Take it from me, we sure stepped high, and none of us looked for 
souvenirs, either. 

We went nearly two miles and then met with our kitchen again, and very 
shortly afterward we moved up closer to the line. We took our place in a thicket 
on a hillside, and were told that we were going over the top in a very short time. 



100 SwirzFRLAxn Corx TVS Part in the World War 

Four bells was the hour set tor us to go over. Three minutes before that 
hour the barrage was to be sent over. We crawled out of our line and formed a 
new one in front of the old one and there we remained perfectly still, waiting 
patiently on the barrage. During the night the tanks had worked in as close as 
possible. When the barrage finally went over the tanks crawled through our lines 
and got in front. As the barrage ceased over we went. In no time at all we had 
taken the Germans' front line trench. We caught them unprepared. They were 
without many guards, many of the soldiers did not have their weapons and as 
we swept in on them almost with one accord they held their hands up in the air 
and hollered "Kamerad." 

My corporal and I came upon a German captain and ten privates. Like 
the rest of their comrades they threw up their hands. The captain began walking 
straight toward me, and as the German soldier is a mighty tricky cuss, when he 
got too near I prodded him with my bayonet and forced him to step back. 

We indicated that they must throw their weapons and other things in a pile 
on the ground, and we also indicated to them that we were not going to hurt 
them. The captain had a fancy small pocket knife fastened to a chain, the chain 
in turn being fastened to a small medal at once end. He removed the knife from 
his clothing, placed it in his hand and held it out to me. I took it and put it in 
my pocket. I then indicated for him to hand me his field glasses and I hung 
them over my shoulder. He then took a wicked looking trench knife from his 
belt and threw it on the ground. I noticed a fancy colored cord fastened to his 
coat and I motioned for him to remove it. He pointed to it with his finger, looked 
at me and said "Keep." I nodded my head in assent. This seemed to please 
him and he stooped over, picked up his trench knife ofi" the ground, put it in his 
hand with the handle pointing toward me and gave it to me. 

The German forces had three lines. The front one was in a shallow trench, 
the second one was the famous Hindenburg line and the support line was behind 
it. The Hindenburg line was secure from shell fire, their trench being ten feet deep. 

As daylight came on this morning of September 29th, it was very foggy and 
we could see only a short distance in front of us. After taking the first line we 
sent the prisoners to the rear and carried on in the usual way. L'nable to see, 
soldiers got lost from their companies, but we kept on fighting, forging forward, 
step by step. By 11 o'clock the fog had raised and we were tearing our way 
through the Hindei^burg line. 

We then advanced by rushes and worked our way into the German support 
line. Their artillery was dropping shells into our midst and Americans and 
British were dying b}' the hundreds. I found myself lost from my company and 
fighting with some of the boys frc>m one of the other outfits. A shell hit a tank 
in front of us and the commander ordered us to seek shelter. 

W hen we went over the top that morning an Australian division had been 
ordered to come to that point and assist us, but they failed to arrive. After we 
had crashed through the Hindenburg line they still had not arrived. So now we 
were ordered to hold our present position until the Australians did show up. 



E. BROWN CAPTURES GERMAN CAPTAIN AND 10 PR1VA'1'I':S 101 

T dropped into a shell hole with some other Yanks and after lying there a 
few minutes we noticed an old shed about 200 yards away on our left. The door 
of the shed had a small scpiare opening large enough for a man's head to stick 
through and suddenly we discovered that some huns in the shed were signaling 
our position to their artillery, using a white rag. With the glasses I had captured 
earlier in the day I could see a face now and then at the square hole in the door. 
I told the boys and we began popping away at that hole. Our fire became so 
heavy that two of the huns risked a shot in the open by running from the house 
and making their escape. 

The Australians came up aliout noon, and a few minutes before we were 
ordered to charge my platoon commander, Lieut. Hill, came along going to the 
first aid. I knew my company was somewhere on the right, but did not know 
where, so I asked him if I had better get back to the company. He was badly 
wounded but he smiled and said, "No, our boys are getting along all right over 
there, so stay here with these men." 

Two hours after the Australians arrived we went over the top again. At 
first we had a tank with us but it was called to our right. We fought our way 
across an open field, then through a strip of woods, over another trench and then 
into an open field again. 

'J1ie ("Jerniaiis had retreated beyond the Field into a strip of woods and were 
popping away at us with machine guns. "^Phree of us dropped into a shell hole 
and we had been there but a few minutes when a bullet struck the man on my 
left squarely in the temple killing him instantly. The soldier on my right had a 
machine gun and he asked me if I would carry the magazine for him. I did so, 
and we came out of the hole charging straight at the strip of woods which con- 
cealed the Germans. 

We hadn't gone twenty steps when the man carrying the machine gun was 
felled by a bullet. 1 kept on and in less than twenty steps more a bullet knocked 
me down. 1 had been shot through the fleshy part of the left leg and after I 
crawled into a shell hole and examined myself I found the wound didn't amount 
to much and there was scarcely enough pain to notice it. So I left the shell hole 
and caught up with a sergeant. 

In a few moments we noticed some Germans concealed over on our left, 
popping away with a machine gun. Pie asked me to take word to the captain 
who was over on the right. About the time I got to the officer he and a couple 
of privates dropped into a shell hole. I followed them in and delivered the mes- 
sage sent by the sergeant. 

The captain had a machine gun and trained it on the spot where the Germans 
were concealed. Just as he was ready to begin operating the gun a bullet struck 
me in the left cheek, tearing out the teeth in my left jaw, slightly cutting my 
tongue, passing on through my mouth and going through my right jaw in front 
of the jaw hinge. As the bullet came out it brought a piece of the right jaw bone 
with it and broke the jaw so that it hung loose and I had no control over my 
mouth. 



102 Switzerland Couxtvs Part in the World war 

The captain dropped his gun, seized my first aid and dressed the wound as 
best he could. That was at four o'clock in the afternoon. He said, "Old fellow, 
you'd better lie here until night. If you trj^ to make it back to the first aid now 
you'll be killed before you reach there. Fd like to send a man with you to help 
you but I just can't do it; we need every man we've got." 

So I laid there until dark and then walked back to the first aid which was 
about half a mile away. Reaching there tlie wound in my face was dressed and 
I was told to walk on back to the field hospital which was three miles away. I 
finally reached the place and my wounds were carefully dressed. When I awoke 
in this hospital I noticed tliat while I was unconscious the field glasses I had taken 
from the German captain had been cut from the strap around my shoulders and 
I never saw them again. 

I remained in the field hospital a few days and on October 5th was taken to 
Birmingham, England. There British doctors removed pieces of my broken jaw 
bone, straightened up the jaw and wired it in place, fastening it to my upper 
jaw so that I could move neither. I was then sent to Winchester, where gold 
tubes were fastened to my upper and lower teeth and little silver bars about an 
inch long were run through the tubes locking my jaws firmly together. They 
kept my jaws locked for several weeks and during that period soft foods were 
fed me through tlie hole in my left jaw where the teeth had been broken ofi by 
the bullet. Occasionally my jaws were unlocked and I finally could move them 
again. 

In December, 191S, I left Winchester for Liverpool, remained there over 
night, and then went on board ship December 14th, arriving in New York De- 
cember 23rd. 



Chapter XXVI 
WILLIAM BOWEN RAMS BAYONET THROUGH BOCHE 

I was sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., May 28, 1918, remained there but a short 
time and was then sent to Camp Beauregard, La. Trained there for about two 
months and then entrained for Newport News, Va., from where we embarked for 
France. There is no use of repeating anything about our voyage. I was stationed 
in the cook house for a big part of the way across, and the meat we served was 
actually so rotten that it dropped from the bones. I don't see now how any man 
could have eaten it and remained alive. 

We had been in France but a short time when George Piatt and I volunteered 
for service in a replacement company. We left Co. K 153rd infantry and went 
into Co. F 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. Three days after we joined this 
outfit we started for the Argonne Forest. We went into reserve for several days, 
during which time we were constantly under shell fire, and we went into the front 
lines the latter part of September. Dead soldiers were lying everywhere. Bodies 
of men who had been dead only a few hours had already turned black, due I 
was told to having been gassed. The bodies were not always intact. Here and 
there would be an arm or a leg, or maybe the head and shoulders of a soldier. 
The sight was more terrible than any person can imagine. 

The huns took a special delight in destroying our kitchen wagons. They were 
always on the watch for those kitchens and every time they caught sight of one 
they did all in their power to blow it up. Sometimes, too, a kitchen got lost in 
the woods and wouldn't find its company for several days, and during that time 
the company to which the kitchen belonged would be carrying on with empty 
stomachs. Piatt and I went three days and three nights without a bite of food 
or a drop of water, and when food was finally sent us my share consisted of a 
can of corned willie and two boxes of hardtack, but, believe me, that hardtack 
tasted just as good as chocolate cake. 

The food shortage was not always felt, however. On several occasions 
Piatt and I begged flour from the adjoining company's kitchen and, in the day 
time when the light of a fire would not show, we started a small blaze, mixed our 
flour into batter and there, within a few yards of the hun lines, we fried batter 
cakes just as calmly as though we were on a camping trip. 

One day our company came to a halt and hay for the horses was pitched 
into a big stack, with the horses picketed around it. The men moved on a short 
distance and a few minutes later a boche shell landed on the ground near the hay 
stack and blew the entire stack into the air like a balloon. The shell killed twelve 
or thirteen horses and if the men had remained there in the position we had oc- 
cupied only a few minutes before, half of our company would have been wiped out. 



104 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

I don't claim to be a hero, and I know it's the hardest thing on earth to be 
positive that you have killed a man in battle. You see, you may be aiming at a 
certain boche, pull the trigger and see him fall, but at the same time maybe 
three or four Yanks right next to you had shot at the fellow at the same time. 
However, I do know that I killed two Germans in the Argonne. 

We were advancing slowly one day and I was in the rear ranks. I noticed 
two boches camouflaged in the under brush. It was a trick of theirs for a few 
huns to conceal themselves as the Americans advanced and let the Yanks get 
past them. Then from their concealment the huns fired into us from behind. 
A Yank would fall here and there but no one would know they had been shot 
from behind. Well, I saw those two birds lying concealed in the underbrush. 
I raised my rifle and pulled the trigger. One of them gave a lurch and laid still. 
The other jumped up and began running through the woods. I couldn't get a 
shot at him so I took out after him. He had gone but a short distance before I 
overtook him and rammed my bayonet through his body. 

One time I saw three boche planes brought down by French and American 
flyers. One of the machines came down turning over and over, black smoke 
from the burning plane almost hiding it from view. The other two planes dropped 
straight to the earth. 

On October 5th I had been fighting all day. About four o'clock in the 
afternoon the shelling became heavier than usual and a number of us took shelter 
against a bank. A high explosive shell exploded near us and the pieces of metal 
from the shell dropped nearly all of us. Four or five pieces struck my helmet and 
glanced off. Another chunk which weighed exactly an ounce hit me in the fleshy 
part of my right leg and passed almost through. 

As soon as my comrades saw I was still alive they took my shelter tent from 
my pack, fastened it to two poles and four men started to the first aid with me. 
I guess I lost consciousness. Finally I partially regained my senses and I realized 
that the huns were shelling us unmercifully. The stretcher bearers knew it, too, 
for they laid me down in the middle of the road and beat it for a bank. I hollered, 
"I'll get killed yet if you guys don't get me out of this road," so then they ran 
over and picked me up, carrying me to shelter beneath the bank. 

When the shelling died down a little they picked me up again and started 
once more for the first aid. This time they got lost but, after wandering around 
for several hours, they finally got me to the first aid at three o'clock in the morning. 

The next night after my wound had been dressed, I was placed in an ambu- 
lance with three other wounded men and the driver started to Base No. 52. A 
boche plane got a line on us and began dropping bombs on the road. I heard 
the bombs explode a little to one side of us and I just gave up hope. Each second 
I thought would be my last. But the airman lost us in the darkness and his 
bombs began falling in a hollow off the road quite a distance. We arrived at 
Base 52 at daybreak without accident. I was there a month, then went to Base 
20 and from there to Base 208. Was sent from there to Bordeaux and sailed 
February 11, 1919, arriving at New York February 27. I was sent to the hospital 
at West Baden, Ind., and after my wound had entirely healed, was discharged 
on April 16, 1919. 



Chapter XXVII 
LAWRENCE E. CHANDLER IN FIVE ENGAGEMENTS 

I entered the service June 14, 1917, at Indianapolis. Was transferred from 
there to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where I was sworn in and received my equip- 
ment. Spent a week there and was transferred to Ft. Riley, Kans., where we 
were organized into Field Hospital No. 20. Remained there about six weeks and 
the company was divided, half remaining there while the others, including myself, 
were sent to Camp Travis where we were replaced by the men who were drafted. 

After remaining there from August until October we received our first men 
and that was the starting of the 90th Division. In a short time we had a full 
company, No. 359 Field Hospital. We spent almost eleven months in that camp 
before we were ordered overseas. We left Camp Travis June 12, 1918, for Camp 
Mills, N. Y. After remaining there a short time we boarded an English vessel, 
the Malita, and after twelve days of zigzagging we pulled into Liverpool, England. 

Transportation was awaiting us there and we boarded a train and went to 
Winchester, England, to a rest camp where we stayed about three days. Then 
we took the train again for South Hampton, where we were loaded on the trans- 
port, Australian, and started for "Sunny France." We landed at LaHavre, 
France, and made for another rest camp. We remained there three days and then 
in side-door Pullmans, 36 to 48 men in a car, we started for the front. 

After riding for three days and nights, and covering about 200 miles, we 
went into a small village called Resey-sur-Ourc. There we were for almost 
three weeks, getting our full equipment and turning in all surplus. We left there 
in a motor truck convoy for the St. Mihiel salient, where we took part in the 
drive of September 12, 1918. After giving them a good flogging there and holding 
the lines until in October we were ordered into the Argonne where we were when 
the armistice was signed. The trip from St. Mihiel to the Argonne was made 
at night in motor trucks. 

The following brief history shows the activities of the 90th Division, of which 
I was a member: 

Arrived in France July 14, 1918. 

Activities — Sazerais, Hayes, Puvenelle, August 24 to October 10. 
St. Mihiel, September 12-15. 

Demonstration at beginning of Argonne-Meuse offensive, October 19 to 
November 11. 

Prisoners captured — 32 officers, 1,844 enlisted men. 
Guns captured — 42 pieces of artillery, 230 machine guns. 



106 Switzerland County's part in the world War 

Advance on front line, 28}/^ kilometers. 

On October 19, 1918, we had a little air raid that put my ears on the bum, 
but I never reported to the hospital until November 19th, and after spending 
five months there was sent to the States as a casual. 

My division was one of the first chosen for the army of occupation, and was 
stationed on the Rhine until the 18th of Alay, 1919. They landed in the States 
June 7th, and my company was just the same as when it left. No one was missing. 



Chapter XXVIII 
D. W. DODD ON TORPEDOED SHIP 

I enlisted at Louisville on May 1, 1917, where I had been attending medical 
college, and was sent to Norfolk, Va., for the necessary training. I was finally 
assigned to the U. S. S. Mt. Vernon, and made my first voyage to France in May, 
1918. We were not gone long, although to me it seemed like an age because it 
was my first time at sea. The Mt. Vernon was one of the fastest ships in the 
transport service and that was quite an asset when going through the war zone. 
It sure was a peculiar sensation to be out in mid-ocean with several thousand 
troops on board and not knowing at what minute the vessel might be "plugged" 
by a sub. And it was a thrilling sight to me, after being at sea six days, to see 
spring up from the horizon as if by magic, a convoy of five or six destroyers to 
escort us through the danger zone. I felt a sense of security with those little men 
of war dashing about, first forward, then aft and alongside the ship. They showed 
unusual activity on that trip because 12 submarines had been sighted near Brest, 
the harbor we were to enter, and two of the subs had been captured by destroyers 
the day previous. 

We got in without mishap, delivered our soldiers to France and started on 
our return trip, after remaining at Brest two days. The destroyers remained with 
us until we were through the danger zone, then we were cast upon our own re- 
sources. When about half-way across the ocean we began to get reports of sub- 
marines in home waters and a close lookout was maintained. We sighted a sub 
at 2 a. m. on our last day at sea, but reached port safely. 

Our ship coaled up and in a short time went to Brest with another lot of 
soldiers. After they were discharged, wounded soldiers and marines were placed 
on our vessel to be brought back to American hospitals. The first wounded I 
attended were two eighteen-year-old boys. They were marines and each had 
lost his right arm at the shoulder. Three other young men on shipboard at the 
same time had each lost a leg. 

On my first trip to France I talked to several persons in Brest. The French 
were downhearted and they insisted that the war would last five years, and that 
even then the end would come only by treaty and not by a victory over the 
enemy. Their idea was that the French and British had been unable to defeat 
the Germans, and that there was no use for the Americans to try it. On my 
third trip to Brest those same people were jubilant, and on account of the wonder- 
ful American victories they were of the opinion that the huns would be defeated 
by Christmas. In all my trips to France, I never knew of any Switzerland county 
man being on board except one. That was on our third voyage in the month of 



108 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

July. The ship was leaving America. For hours soldiers remained on deck 
watching the fading shore line. At 8 p. m. all lights on the ship were turned out, 
the vessel being left in total darkness. A few minutes later I heard a peculiar 
drawling voice on a lower deck, complaining that he couldn't find his blankety- 
blank bunk. The voice sounded familiar so I went below and, approaching the 
peeved soldier, recognized him as Walter Green. We carried 5,000 troops across 
on that voyage and on our return trip we sighted a periscope. Almost immediate- 
ly U. S. Destroyers dashed madly toward the spot dropping depth bombs. Noth- 
ing more was seen of the submarine. 

During the latter part of August we carried another lot of soldiers to France 
and when we started back to America we had a large number of wounded men 
on board. On the morning of September 5th, I was medical officer of the day and 
was sleeping in the sick bay, as was customary when we had a large number of 
wounded. It was 7:40 a. m. when all of a sudden our starboard guns blazed away 
and it seemed that they jarred the ship more than usual. I jumped out of bed 
to see what the commotion was about and had just about got dressed when 
there came a deadly explosion, which hurled all of us sprawling to the deck and 
jammed us up against the bulkhead. All of this was accompanied with the 
sound of smashing glass and falling timbers, and it seemed like the vessel raised 
ten feet out of the water. All hands realized immediately that a sub had got us 
and, each man shouldering a wounded man, we were prepared to abandon ship in 
seven minutes should it have been necessary. Five subs were in the fleet that 
attacked us. The shell that hit our vessel tore an awful hole in the hull and water 
poured in faster than our pumps could force it out. Thirty-six of our men were 
killed by the torpedo and some of the wounded patients were horribly burned. 
It fell to the hospital corps to do most of the searching for bodies and it was a 
grewsome task. It was a long anxious trip back to France as we had 225 miles 
to go. During the day the ship settled fifteen feet and toward evening began to 
list heavily on account of being so full of water. It was not until two o'clock the 
next morning that we arrived in port where the vessel was repaired. 

During the remainder of the war our ship made several trips to France 
carrying troops, but we had no more encounters with submarines. 



Chapter XXIX 
ALLEN DAY ON TRAIL OF THE BOCHE 

I entered the service in the spring of 1918, being sent to Camp Forest, Ga. 
We trained only a few weeks and then sailed on July 6th, landing at Liverpool, 
England, July 18th. We crossed England and went to France on July 25th. 

On September 12th, in a downpour of rain, we hiked eleven hours straight, 
carrying full pack, and went into the trenches. Our company was the first in 
the 51st Infantry to get a boche, and we got him right after we took over the 
trenches. A part of our division lost a good many men but our company didn't 
lose a single man and only three of our boys were wounded. 

After we came from the trenches we were allowed a few days' rest and then 
started for the Argonne in reserve. We didn't get into action there for we couldn't 
keep up with the boches. Only one of our regiments went into battle formation 
and they didn't even get sight of a hun. 

The division we were in reserve for was after them in trucks and our hiking 
6th Division came along a few kilometers behind. If the war had lasted only a 
few days longer we would have got to show the huns what we could do. 

The 6th Division had a reputation as an open warfare division. I, K, L, 
and M Companies of the 51st Infantry won the First Army championship for 
being best on maneuvers. In April, 1919, we were sent into Germany for a short 
time and returned to the States in June, 1919. 



Chapter XXX 

JAMES GRAMMER OAKLEY SAVED BY RED CROSS 

WORKERS 

Early in 1917 we were received in France with open arms, and during our 
training period we were royally entertained. In a few months, however, the good 
times became only memories and we settled down to clean up the boche. I was 
made a sharpshooter with the 26th Infantry. It seems like we just went from one 
front to another in 1917, and on every occasion we drove the Germans back. 

In the early part of June, 1918, we were having a harder battle than usual, 
it seemed, when the Germans gassed us. I was taken unawares and dropped. 
Red Cross workers found me lying unconscious, face down in the mud. When 
I came from my dreams I was in a French hospital. The gas had settled in my 
eyes and lungs. The treatment I received was splendid and after four days I 
was able to expose my eyes to the light. When I was some stronger I was re- 
moved to an American hospital, and it was sure good to have a real American 
nurse to talk to me. 

I was in this hospital three weeks and then was sent to another American 
hospital. There I began to talk in my natural tone of voice and improved steadily 
for a time. Finally I was removed from the hospital and was sent to St. Agnan, 
where it was found my eyes and lungs were in a bad condition. I had the choice 
of hoeing potatoes and drilling or remaining in the office of the classification camp. 
Not being a farmer, and believing I had had enough drilling, I chose the latter. 
My lungs were in such bad shape that during the succeeding months it was im- 
possible for me to get back on the firing line. 



Chapter XXXI 
J. KIRBY DANGLADE SERVES WITH FRENCH ARMY 

I enlisted May 19, 1917, at Cincinnati. Went to Camp Sherman, Ohio, and 
was placed in a motor truck company. Remained there until the first of De- 
cember, 1917, when I was sent to Camp Merritt, N. J. We left there January 
11, 1918, and landed at St. Nazaire, France, on January 27th. 

We were sent immediately to Pont St. Maxence, where we were split up and 
assigned to the French army. All of the young men in France were on the firing 
line and the French officers wanted their old men to learn to drive trucks. Twelve 
of us sergeants were transferred then as guides and instructors. 

The first place we went to was Soissons, where we took part in the second 
battle of the Somme which started on March 21, 1918. The drive lasted until 
April 26th. The Germans broke through the French line and drove us back 
through Soissons to a point near Meaux. General Foch, in an effort to check 
the drive, ordered the trucks to bring up the old French regulars. We did so and 
after a terrible battle the drive was checked. To give one an idea of how fast 
the Germans were driving the French in this battle I will relate a little incident: 
One night we fellows with the trucks hauled 300 machine guns up to the first line 
and thirty minutes after we had delivered them the boches had demolished every 
one of the guns by shell fire. 

After this drive had been checked the Germans broke through the French 
line down on the Aisne, on the Chemin des Dames (Ladies' Road), northeast of 
Rheims, and we hurried there on May 27th. On this front we hauled machine 
guns and ammunition night and day until June 5th. The Germans used an im- 
mense quantity of chlorine gas, a whiff of which would knock a man flat on the 
ground, and they drove us back to a point near Soissons, where the drive was 
finally checked. 

The Germans were trying for the towns of Montdidier and Noyon, and on 
June 9th we were again rushed into a defensive there. I was attached to the 
French Blue Devils, and the Germans simply whipped hades out of us. The 
Blue Devils wore dark blue uniforms and the men could be easily seen by the 
huns, who dropped box barrages around them. The barrages then gradually 
closed in and the French were killed like rats in a trap. This drive was finally 
checked on June 13, 1918. We remained in our positions and the French, worn 
out and all but defeated, fought desperately to hold the line. 

The first of July the Germans tried to get to Chalons where they hoped to 
establish a base for supplies. They broke through on the Marne river on the 
Champagne sector and we were sent there on July 15th. This was the second 



112 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

battle of the Marne. The French would succeed in checking the drive at one 
point and almost instantly the Germans would break through some place else. 
On July 18th we checked the drive and started the enemy backward. 

This was known as the Aisne-Marne offensive, the first offensive I had been 
in since reaching France. 

The French drove the Germans back so fast that quite frequently we would 
get to the authorized place of unloading and after arriving there, get orders to 
go on further up the line. Prisoners under strong guard constantly passed us on 
their way back from the front, and right here I want to explode that theory of 
the Prussian "infant in arms." From magazines I received occasionally, I learned 
that the people in the United States had the impression that the German soldiers 
were all young boys yet in their teens. In reality they were about as bloodthirsty 
looking a crew as one would care to meet up with. Of course there were quite a 
number of young chaps in the lot, but as for the German infant, in monstrous 
boots, his baby blue eyes gazing dumbly at one as he trudged along, his spirit 
cowed and broken, ready to cry "kamarad" at the first sight of an Allied soldier, 
I never saw him all during the war. 

The rapid advance of the Allies played havoc with the Germans and at no 
time were they able to maintain their positions. Dead horses and dead Germans 
were everywhere, and in one or two instances we were forced to detour off the 
roads in order to keep from crushing the dead bodies. 

During this drive I went over to an advanced dressing station the enemy 
had used. It must have been 1500 yards back of their first lines. Seven hours 
before the boches had been swarming around there. When I arrived there were 
eight dead Germans lying about. It looked as though the whole bunch had 
stopped and tried to argue with a French 75. They ought to have known better 
for those little guns didn't cherish any love for the boche and from this time on 
whenever they were pointed his way Fritz lost. The Aisne-Marne offensive con- 
tinued until August 6th when there was a lull. 

Two days later we had moved our trucks to the Somme sector where we 
were thrown in to help the British make their great drive which started on August 
8th and continued until September 17, 1918. It was hard going, the roads were 
seas of mud and the bridges we had to cross were flimsy affairs. One day I saw a 
$10,000 truck containing $8,000 worth of ammunition, go through a bridge. No 
effort was made to get the truck out. Soldiers simply laid another bridge over 
the truck and we went on. 

From the Somme we went to the Oise-Aisne offensive on September 18th. 
American soldiers were there but I didn't get to see any of them. The Yanks 
pushed so fast that the French couldn't keep up with them and French soldiers 
were fearful the Americans would be cut off by the Germans. I was in this drive 
until September 29th when our trucks were ordered into the Meuse-Argonne 
offensive. We got there on October 1st and were still pushing our way forward 
on November 11th when the armistice was signed. 



RUSSELL BENNETT 



i"'" 




*, l.AUKN^E rOLE 





xVARON MOREILLION 



HUGH SHANAHAN 





CALVIN THOMPKINS 



C'OLEN V. SCOTT 
LOOMIS WILSON 





MISS LULU SHANAHAN 



HERBERT M. SIGMON 



J. KIRBY DANGLADE SERVES WITH FRENCH ARMY 113 

The American soldiers with the French were not numerous, especially the 
particular bunch I was with, and we were easily recognized. If one could get a 
picture of a long line of monster trucks trumping along the road in single file, 
helmets, gas masks and rifles clanging and banging, and on the seats young chaps 
covered with dust, tired no doubt, but who in all probability hadn't had a night's 
sleep in weeks, then one would get a fairly accurate description of the 408th 
Motor Supply Train of the French army. 

The Red Cross did a wonderful work in France and a Y. M. C. A. man was 
always attached to our outfit. No matter how dangerous, wherever a bunch of 
soldiers were, there you would find the man with a little red triangle on his arm, 
looking after the boys in any way he could. Sometimes he had a little store where 
he kept knickknacks that a soldier couldn't very well do without. And a great 
many times the Y man attached to us followed our convoy with his little "tin 
lizzie" full of chocolate, cigars and cigarettes which he dispensed with a lavish 
hand. 



Chapter XXXII 

HALSTEAD FERGUSON GOES THROUGH BATTLE BARE- 
HEADED 

What I went through in the World War would make hell look like a play- 
ground. I was a member of the Marine Corps and was in all the big fighting in 
the summer of 1918. 

At Belleau Wood we were outnumbered seven to one, but we sure made life 
miserable for the huns. I went through the battle bareheaded. I lost my helmet 
in the woods and after a short time I secured a (merman helmet. Then I was 
afraid to wear it for fear some Marine might shoot me for a German. Lots of 
Germans threw away their guns and ran. We picked them up and shot them 
down with their own weapons. Even yet, when I think of it, I feel like shaking 
hands with myself to know that I am still alive. 

The Germans were so treacherous that wounded huns lying on the battlefield 
would rise up on their elbows and shoot down the Americans after we had passed 
over them. Well, such things as that occurred so frequently that we finally 
couldn't take any more chances. I came upon one wounded German soldier and, 
taking my pistol out, I told him I was going to kill him. He begged me not to 
saying, "You are young and I am young; we both want to live." I talked to 
another German lad who could speak English. I asked him how he liked the 
American way of fighting and he said we sure made it hot for them. He said his 
mother was English and she had told him if he ever had the chance to be captured 
by Americans that he would be treated good. We gave him water and something 
to eat, the first he had had in four days. 

In July and August of 1918 I went over the top four times and all of my pals 
were killed or wounded. In some of the fighting it looked at times to be impossible 
for any human being to live through it. I saw brave men go raving mad right 
by my side and some times I thought I would surely go mad myself. I was in 
the big counter drive on the Marne and we sure ran them ragged there. 

In my fifth trip over the top during the early part of September I was 
wounded in the arm but it wasn't bad and I went on through the battle. Some 
of the towns we captured had been in German hands for four years and the French 
people we liberated were sure glad to see us. 



Chapter XXXIII 
WALTER GREEN WOUNDED TWICE 

Folks around Vevay used to think I was pretty awkward, and I guess I was, 
but in July, 1918, when I was fighting at Chateau-Thierry, don't you know I 
was about the liveliest awkward man you ever saw in your life. 

After crossing the ocean we landed at Brest and were taken to shore in 
small boats. As we landed our band was playing, "We won't come back 'till it's 
over over there." We remained in camp at Brest about two weeks then went 
to camp about five miles from there. For beds we nailed planks alongside the 
barracks and used them for bunks. 

Orders came for us to move and we hiked back to Brest in a downpour of 
rain and were loaded into box cars, 40 and 50 men in a car. We rode for two days 
and nights and had to stand up most of the time. We finally got off at Chateau- 
Thierry. This was in July. We left the train and hiked toward the front. The 
Germans were making a terrific drive and the French, having held them for several 
days, were worn out. Before we got to the front we were issued gas masks and 
helmets and I said to myself right then, "There is going to be something com- 
ing off." 

The next night we went into the front lines and took positions right behind 
the French, who were about to give out. The U. S. Marines were on our left. 
Just before daylight we all went over the top together and I fought for two days 
before I was shot through the left arm with a machine gun bullet which knocked 
me down. 

You folks all love the old flag, of course, but after a man has joined the army 
and has taken the oath, then he knows what the flag means to him. And when 
we faced the huns at Chateau-Thierry and bullets were killing our comrades all 
around us, the band began playing "The Star Spangled Banner" and, man, the 
whole American army would have chased the devil out of hell right then. We 
didn't care if we got killed; we didn't think of anything but the flag and those 
damn Germans. 

There's an old saying among soldiers that a shell never hits twice in the 
same place, but I saw six doughboys lying in a shell hole popping away with 
their guns when a shell dropped on them and blew them to pieces. During the 
two days I fought at Chateau-Thierry I saw men have their heads blown off by 
shells while they were standing on their feet fighting. I saw arms and legs torn 
from men's bodies and I kept saying to myself, "Walter, your time is coming 
next." 

After I was shot in the arm I went back to a first aid station and had the 
wound dressed. The bullet had passed through the flesh but had broken no 



116 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

bones. I was sent to the hospital and remained there two weeks. At the end of 
that time I was sent back to my company and met them just as they were coming 
off the line. Out of the original 265 men in my company only 58 were left. The 
rest had been killed, captured or wounded. 

We then went back into reserve in a little town called St. George and we 
were there about six weeks when we started for the Verdun front. 

We started hiking at 10 o'clock one night, hiked all night and all the next 
day until about 5 o'clock in the evening. We had reached a woods and got an 
order then to lay over there until the next day. 

I was awful hungry when we stopped. 

We hadn't had anything to eat for a long time except corned willie and hard 
tack soaked in water, and we had even run out of water. We were about dead 
for water but we had orders to not drink any that came out of shell holes or other 
places on the ground, because the Germans had retreated from the place where 
we were, and there was no telling how much poison and stuff they had placed in 
the water. Finally we couldn't stand it any more, so we dipped up water during 
the night, boiled it, then let it cool and drank it. 

The Germans shelled the woods all the time we were in it, and the next day 
their airplanes came over and dropped bombs on us and shot at us with ma- 
chine guns. My partner and I were lying in our pup tent when a shell hit near 
killing three men, and a piece of it passed through our tent, just over the top of 
where we were sleeping, and passed on through two more tents on the other side 
of us. 

The morning of the second day we were ordered to pack up and leave. We 
hiked into the Verdun front at 11 o'clock in the morning. While we were march- 
ing to the front seven German airplanes came over and attacked us. They came 
so close firing their machine guns that the whole regiment got to firing at them 
with Springfield rifles and, by George, we brought down two of them. I could 
hear the bullets splattering all around my feet, and that's one time I wasn't 
awkward. 

Companies were ordered to form into two lines, the men ten feet apart, on 
account of the terrific machine gun fire and the bombs, so that too many would 
not be killed at once. 

The Verdun front was a lot of little hills and valleys. We took our places 
in the line and held them until the next morning at six o'clock when we went 
over the top. It was pretty stiff fighting but we drove the huns back about a 
mile and a half. \Miile we were advancing my corporal was killed. Six machine 
gun bullets had passed through his body. 

I had been in the fight four days and on the fourth day the Germans began 
shooting mustard gas at us. This was on September 5. I heard the gas alarm 
and put my mask on, and then I saw it had a bullet hole plumb through it. I 
began breathing that stuff and it made me sick, and I knew it was all off with 



WALTER Green Wounded Twice 117 

Walter, I looked at my watch and saw that it was exactly 10 minutes until 10 
o'clock and that's the last I knew. I found out later that I was picked up at 8 
o'clock the next morning. 

They took me to the first aid and laid me down to wait until they could tend 
to me. The Germans were sending over a heavy fire, and while I was lying there 
a piece of shrapnel hit me in the left foot. 

I was sent back to a field hospital, was there about a month, then was taken 
to another hospital. They sent me to Paris then and I was there about two weeks 
before they sent me to Brest. I was in Paris when the armistice was signed. 

During the time I was over there I was sent into Belgium and into the Ar- 
gonne Forest, but didn't do any fighting. While in Belgium, though, I saw three 
train loads of girls who hadbeen ravished by German soldiers and who were about 
to become mothers. They were being taken to a French city to be taken care of. 



Chapter XXXIV 
VERE GRAHAM SLEEPS WITH DEAD FRENCHMAN 

I enlisted in the Marine Corps at Indianapolis, May 7, 1918. Went to Paris 
Island, S. C, where I had eight weeks' of hard training, then to Utica, N.Y., for 
four weeks with a machine gun crew. From there I was sent to Quantico, Va., 
where I had a few days work in bayonet drills, and prepared to go over sea. I 
sailed about the first of August, 1918, and landed at Brest about the middle ot 
the month. Did stevedore work there for about a week unloading the ship. 

When our work at Brest was finished we were sent to a training camp at 
St. Agnon, where we got our helmets and gas masks, then we were loaded in box 
cars. Those cars are about the size of an ordinary truck and about forty men 
were placed in each car. Being so crowded we were compelled to stand all the 
time, and we traveled thus for three days. Leaving the cars we traveled all of 
one night in a downpour of rain, to a woods back of St. Mihiel where we joined 
the 79th Company, 6th Regiment of U. S. Marines. 

We went into battle at St. Mihiel on September 12th. Our barrage was sent 
over at one o'clock in the morning and it was said to be the greatest barrage 
thrown over in any battle of the war. The barrage lasted until five o'clock in the 
morning, during which time we were being placed in position in front of the guns 
ready to attack. 

At five o'clock we went over the top. The barrage had driven the huns out 
of their trenches and we crossed them and then went on after the boches through 
woods and over a hill. We captured several towns, the principal one being 
Thiecourt, where we freed many French prisoners who had been captives of the 
germans for four years. We killed and captured hundreds of Germans and our 
outfit lost a very few men. We made the prisoners all throw their helmets on 
the ground; those helmets were all striped with paint and after the prisoners had 
been taken away their helmets made the ground look like a patch of watermelons 
as much as anything I can think of. Before the fight was over we had been a 
longtime without food and we helped ourselves out of the packs of dead Germans 
and also drank the coffee out of their canteens. 

We formed a line in front of Thiecourt and the next morning an advance 
guard drove the huns back still further. On Sunday morning, either the 15th or 
16th of September, we attacked again. Our battalion, the Second, was cut off 
from the rest of the army and for a time it looked as though every man of us 
would be killed. We couldn't get any support from our artillery or from the air 
planes. The german artillery dropped a "box barrage" around us which penned 
us in and we were caught like rats in a trap. The barrage slowly closed in on us, 



Vere Graham Sleeps with Dead Frenchman 119 

but about day break the next morning, when all hope seemed gone, another 
outfit fought their way to us and following our escape we went back to Thiecourt 
where we rested all day. 

When night came we marched to the rear and went back near Toul where 
we were in training for one week. 

The bread we got over there was mostly made by the French. It was made 
in large, round rolls with crust all over it, and it was waterproof. You could lay 
a roll of that bread out in the rain for a week and it would be just as good as it 
was when first baked. Lots of times when we were ready to attack fellows would 
run a string through a roll of that bread and hang it over their backs. Very likely 
that would be all we would have to eat for several days. 

One dark, rainy night we were loaded on box cars and shipped to Chalons. 
We were there three days and then French Chambiums took us up to within ten 
kilometers of the Champagne front in support of the French fourth army. 

When we reached this place I learned that the outfit my brother Roscoe was 
in, had just arrived, and I hunted him up. We spent half a day together and that 
was the only time I saw him while in France. 

The French had been trying to take this place for five days and the fields 
and trenches were blue with the bodies of their dead. The Germans had used 
lots of gas and the bodies were all horribly swollen and had turned black. 

Three different times the French went over the top and failed to break the 
German line, and then we were ordered in to take their places, the French being 
moved over to one end of the line. This was on October 1st. We had a hard 
fight and lost lots of men but we drove the huns back and took Blanc Mount. 
Probably the chief cause of our heavy loss of men was the failure of the French 
to hold up their end of the line. For three days they lagged behind and German 
snipe shooters picked our men off at will. 

While advancing at Mont Blanc a dead german was lying in front of me. 
I took a watch from his clothing and found it was still running. The watch is 
one of the finest I ever saw and I still have it in my possession. 

We fought here for eight days and nights. When we started into the scrap 
we knew we had a hard job ahead of us. Each man filled his belt, put as many 
hand grenades in his pockets as they would hold and then we threw our blankets, 
clothing and nearly everything else away. The nights were bitter cold and we 
would almost freeze. While in this drive one night I found myself in a sort of 
a hole in the ground and a dead Frenchman was lying in the hole his blanket 
partly covering him. I couldn't get the body out and I couldn't release the 
blanket. Well, it was a case of freezing or having a dead Frenchman for a bed 
fellow, and without very much hesitation I lifted the free end of the blanket and 
crawled in beside the cold body. I slept beside that corpse all during the night 
and part of the next day. 



120 Switzerland county's Part in the World war 

We fought here for eight days continuously and on October 8th I was 
wounded when a shell burst within a few feet of the spot where I was lying in a 
trench, just before we were to have attacked again. 

Five of us were lying in a kind of a dugout in the trench. A shell made a 
direct hit killing the four boys in front of me, and pieces of the shell entered my 
right fore-arm, right hand, left wrist and forehead. I was unconscious about an 
hour and a half and when I came to I arose to my feet and walked back two 
kilometers to the first aid station. I was taken from there to Field Hospital No. 
5 and was operated on the same night. I was then placed on a Red Cross train 
and taken to the Meves-Bulcy hospital, which was Base 50. 

I remained there about two weeks and then was sent to Base 89 of the same 
hospital. The last of February I was sent to St. Agnon and from there to Mare, 
where I remained about a month. I then went to southern France in a box car, 
passing through a very beautiful country, to Marseilles where I remained until I 
sailed for America about the middle of April, 1919. I landed in New York April 
31st and was sent to Quantico, Va., where I got my discharge. 



Chapter XXXV 
HUBERT HAMILTON WITH BRITISH IN BELGIUM 

I went from Vevay to Camp Taylor, Ky., on October 5, 1917, and trained 
there throughout the winter. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C, March 29, 1918, 
and after remaining there about a month was sent to Camp Merritt, N. J. Eight 
days later our outfit went to Boston where we sailed on the Australian ship, Mil- 
tiades. We were nineteen days going over, landing on June 5th at Gravesend, 
England. We went to Calais, France, right away and got gas instruction. Then 
we went to another training camp about 25 miles back of the front, and all the 
time we remained there we could hear the rumble of the barrage. 

On July 12th we marched into Belgium and that was my first time under 
fire. At noon of that day we went over the top and drove the huns out of Kemmel 
Hill. It really wasn't very much of a scrap because we had the germans on the 
run in a very short time. We remained in Belgium for a month and during our 
stay in that country it was no uncommon sight to see women and children with 
their hands or fingers cut off. 

While in Belgium I didn't do very much real fighting myself. There were 
about eighteen guides in a division and I was one of them. It was my duty to 
familiarize myself with the country by maps and other means and then whenever 
there was an attack I had to lead certain companies to their positions on the line. 

We came out of Belgium the latter part of August and were taken in box 
cars to the Somme front between Cambrai and St. Quentin. After a short period 
in a rest camp we went back to the front on September 27th and went over the 
top on the morning of September 29th. The Cambrai Tunnel which we cap- 
tured was all electric lighted and equipped with many modern conveniences. 
The tunnel was seven and one-half miles long. 

Before this battle we had often heard that the huns ground up the bodies 
of their dead soldiers, but none of us could believe it. When we captured the 
tunnel, however, we also took their "Hospital Ship," which was the place where 
dead huns were ground up and certain elements of their bodies made into high 
explosive shells. I saw the ground up bodies in that machine myself and also 
saw two great piles of dead Germans stacked up near the "Hospital Ship." We 
fought here for three days, then went to a rest camp for two days and then back 
to the same sector. 

We went over the top every night and morning from then until October 9th. 
That date we were advancing when a shell dropped just behind me, having passed 
over my head about two feet. Before I could fall to the ground a piece of shrapnel 
struck my shoulder. My comrades saw me whirl around four or five times and 



122 Switzerland County's Part in the world War 

then fall. When I came to our Lieutenant was holding to me and he sent me back 
to the first aid by Herbert Neal, who afterward died of pneumonia. 

I was in the hospital several weeks, recovered and then joined my company 
in a rest camp. We got orders to march on Metz on November 11th, but just 
before the orders were put into effect the armistice was signed. 

I left France April 1st and landed at Charleston, S. C, April 13th. Was dis- 
charged April 24, 1919. 



Chapter XXXVI 
SAM HUFF SERVES WITH MEDICAL CORPS 

Well, this last time I enlisted in 1914 and was in the medical department at 
Ft. Strong, Mass., when war was declared. We were organized into the 55th 
regiment and sailed for France March 5, 1913, on the Mauritania. 

Germany had been making her brags that they were going to send the 
Mauritania down right on top of the Lusitania, so during the six and one-half 
days it took us to cross a very careful watch was kept for subs. Five were sighted 
but the ship's crew didn't get a shot at them. 

We landed at Liverpool and left there the next day for Ramsey, England. 
Was there a week and then crossed the English Channel, going to France. We 
were loaded into side-door Pullmans and traveled for six days and nights until 
we got to Claremont, France. We trained there until July 1, 1919, and then 
went into the second battle of the Marne on July 16. We fought continuously 
until September 23rd, driving the enemy through Chateau-Thierry to the Vesle 
river. 

After a rest we moved to the Meuse-Argonne offensive, reaching the Argonne 
October 20th. We were in this battle until the armistice was signed. 

All medical men who wore their insignia on their sleeves, were special targets 
for the huns. It was said that the germans would rather get one medical man 
than half a dozen from any other outfit, because a shortage of medical men would 
let our wounded boys die for lack of attention. Well, a whole lot of fellows in our 
outfit took the insignia from their sleeves and began toting a big revolver. 

My first time under fire was at the second battle of the Marne. We were 
stationed in an old chateau. The Germans shelled us and their snipe shooters 
shot at us. They made things so hot that the Colonel finally said: "We'll have 
to get those snipe shooters." Six men were sent out and I was sent with them to 
care for any who might be injured. We scouted around all day, but didn't find 
them. We were returning to our outfit when a german machine gun opened up 
just in front of us; they hadn't heard us coming. There were two huns working 
the gun. All seven of us Yanks drew our guns and fired, and both the snipers fell 
dead. That's where I got the helmet I sent my father. 

On my third day on the Marne a big air battle was fought within our sight. 
Six planes, four boche and two English were shot down before the germans were 
defeated. 

While we were in the Marne, fritz, the bomber, came over every night about 
11 o'clock and again about 3 in the morning. About the fourth night he came 
over he dropped a bomb, making a complete hit on Battery 1, killing eight of the 
boys and wounding four, and putting the whole gun crew out of commission. 



124 Switzerland County's part in the world war 

The shelling from German guns became so heavy one night that our outpost 
wire was cut in 43 places, and in this particular instance our guns each fired back 
250 rounds. 

One of our observation planes was shot down by a boche plane one day. 
Another boche airman came over, shot down two observation balloons and 
darted toward the ground for another that had not been raised. He flew so low 
that our airmen crowded him to the earth and captured him. 

One day the captain and a sergeant of the medical corps went down to one 
of the batteries, leaving me at the dressing station. They telephoned back for 
me to bring the surgical case. I started down a hill with it and it seemed to me 
like some hun at a big gun was throwing shells at me, for they kept hitting the 
ground a short distance behind me. I'll bet I dropped to the ground a dozen 
times before I got to the battery. I left the case and started back to the dressing 
station. 

I tripped on a piece of wire and fell headlong to the ground, grabbing my 
helmet as I fell. An instant later a shell hit just in front of me and I would surely 
have been blown to pieces if I had not fallen. 

I've heard a lot about heroism in this war but there is one example that has 
no superior. Four boche planes came over one day and, knowing that it was al- 
most certain death for him, a lone American bird-man started after those four 
hun planes. Circling and darting, he gave battle to the whole bunch of them. 
He brought down one of them and the other three started back to their own lines. 
He kept after them pouring machine gun bullets into them and being shot at in 
return. And he brought down a second plane. A moment later, however, the 
brave fellow got his own death blow and crashed to the earth. 

The first men we lost in the Argonne were killed by one of our own guns. 
One of our 155's was firing a short distance behind another of our guns. A shell 
struck the limb of a tree just over the front gun and exploded. Nine of the gun 
crew were killed. 

The kitchen rolled up one evening and the men lined up for chow. A shell 
exploded near, killing two men and wounding six or seven. One of those killed 
was my best friend. The shell cut his left leg off below the knee and his right leg 
just below the hip. While dressing the wounded there another shell hit within 
ten feet of us but it was a dud, failing to explode. 

The night before the armistice was signed nine of us were sleeping in a cow 
shed. An Austrian 88 shell struck the shed about 3 o'clock in the morning, 
killing three of the boys and the other six of us didn't get a scratch. Our helmets, 
gas masks and mess pans hanging on the wall were blown to pieces. 

The last few days before the armistice was signed boche airmen flew over 
our lines and dropped literature which said: "Boys, what are you firing on us 
for.? We are evacuating the territory as rapidly as possible." But that only 
made the Yanks fight all the harder. 

On November 11th we were ordered to stop firing at 11 o'clock. We sent 
our last shot over at five minutes before eleven. 

I landed in the States February 22nd and arrived home April 21st. 



Chapter XXXVII 
JOE HOLLCRAFT SEES BRUTALITY OF HUNS 

I left Vevay May 7, 1917, with Howard Burton, Robert Banta and Irvin 
Siebert, and we went to Louisville to join the marines. Banta and I were turned 
down and we then went to the regular army recruiting station and got in. I 
was sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky., and remained there until July 21st, when I was 
sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kas. Spent some time there and then went to Little 
Silver, N. J. Left there December 18th, for Newport News and remained at the 
latter place until February 15, 1918, when I sailed for France, the ship leaving 
the harbor at four o'clock in the afternoon. We stopped over at Halifax, being 
given permission to leave the ship. We didn't see any subs going over and without 
incident of any kind we landed at Brest, France, March 12, 1918. 

I remained at Brest two days and then went to St. Nazaire. We unloaded 
our horses there, then took train and went back to our old outfit, First Field 
Battalion, Signal Corps. 

I wasn't put through a lot of preliminaries before I got to the firing line. 
When we reached our outfit, after unloading our horses at St. Nazaire, the boys 
were already on the Toul front, or Sommedune, as the battle was called. 

We were under fire there for three weeks and during that period my work 
was in the trenches fixing telephone lines where they had been blown to pieces 
by German shellfire. Often times my work was in dugouts sixty feet below the 
surface of the earth. The Germans' front line was only about half a mile away 
and they kept up a steady bombardment on our trenches. 

The 26th Division relieved us and we went into a rest camp for two weeks. 
We were then ordered to entrain and went to Chateau-Thierry in June, 1918. 
We hadn't much more than got into the scrap there when a shell struck our ser- 
geant, a man from California, squarely in the back, and after the explosion there 
wasn't a sign of him left. At Chateau-Thierry I took down with chills and fever 
and was sent to the base hospital. I didn't get back to my outfit until the 26th 
of August. 

When I returned to them the boys were in a rest camp, but a few days 
later we were loaded into automobile trucks and went to the Soissons front. We 
were there two days when we were ordered back to make a drive on Thiecourt. 

This town had been in possession of the Germans for four years. The Germans 
controlled an important little railroad that ran into the place and there was a 
German hospital there. We started our drive and we didn't stop. The Germans 
fought stubbornly, but we kept on going and they gave way before us. 



126 S\MTZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

As we entered the town French citizens who had been at the mercy of the 
huns four years, ran toward us. Nearly all of them were in rags and they were 
half-starved. Girls ran up to the American soldiers and kissed them, and men, 
women and children cheered their American deliverers. We gave the poor 
people what food we had and marched on into the town. And then we saw an 
appalling sight. Nearly every girl and young woman in the place was the mother 
of a German baby. 

When the Yanks realized what the Germans had done during the four years 
they had had those French girls at their mercy, they simply saw red. The huns 
had made a stand just at this time and then made a counter-attack. Their minds 
filled with the horrible things those brutes had done, the Yanks charged them and 
mowed them down by the hundreds. And our boys weren't satisfied until they 
had driven the Germans back further than before, had taken hundreds of prisoners 
and a number of guns. 

I took no active part in this battle but my work kept me under fire all the 
time. It was my duty to keep the wireless outfit in repair and that was some job 
because the shell fire continually put it out of commission. 

After holding our position for two days we were relieved and after a rest we 
went to the Champagne front. Just as we reached the front a piece of a shell 
struck the revolver in my belt and tore the handle off of it, but I was unhurt. 
Four of us Signal Corps boys were on our way to the front carrying telephones, 
when a piece of shrapnel hit the boy beside me and while he was not killed, yet 
he was so badly hurt that he was taken to the hospital. 

The French had been holding this sector, and although they had repeatedly 
tried, yet they had failed to drive the Germans back. They said it was no use 
for the Americans to try because they had failed. 

Well, the Fifth and Sixth regiments of Marines, and the 8th and 23rd In- 
fantry of the 2nd Division waded into those huns and they didn't stop until they 
had driven them back to a row of hills a mile away. 

W e held our positions here for some time and we did it on one meal every 
twenty-four hours. One day we didn't get even that much. Our ration wagon 
was coming toward us with chow when a boche gunner planted a shell right in 
the back end of the wagon and soup, slum, beans and coffee were scattered in all 
directions. The driver and horses were uninjured. 

Being relieved here we went for a rest to Camp Lafayette. Marching to 
this place I became so thirsty that I laid down and drank water from a puddle 
in the road. The water poisoned me and I was sent to a field hospital, then to 
the base hospital at Orleans, and was confined there from October 9th until De- 
cember 13th. On the day the armistice was signed I was still a patient, but was 
able to leave the hospital at times. Believe me, on the night of November 11th, 
those French people certainly celebrated. Soldiers of all nationalities paraded 
and men, women and children simply went crazy. 



JOE HOLLCRAFT SEES BRUTALITY OF HUNS 127 

I didn't see so very much of the Salvation Army while I was over there, but 
I heard enough from the other boys to know that there was nothing they wouldn't 
do for a soldier. And I sure will take off myhat to the Red Cross. If a man didn't 
have money he could go to the Red Cross and get cigarettes and chocolate or 
anything they had, but if you were broke there was no use in going to the Y. M. 
C. A. While I was in the hospital a "Y" man would come around occasionally 
and he would divide up a bar of chocolate between three or four of us. 

The soldiers had no use for the Y. M. C. A. but they'd give the shirts off 
their backs to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. 

I landed in the States April 7, 1919, left the ship the following day and re- 
mained in the east until after we paraded in Boston. I was then sent to Camp 
Taylor where I was mustered out on May 6, 1919, being in the service exactly 
two years to the day. 



Chapter XXXVIII 
ERNEST LACKLAND IN HOSPITAL BOMBED BY HUNS 

Shortly after war was declared I volunteered and for several months I 
trained at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Was transferred from the Engineering 
Corps to the Artillery in September and went to Camp Mills, N. Y., where our 
outfit became a part of the Rainbow Division. We were given our "tin" hats 
which weighed about one pound and three ounces each, and out outfit was 
equipped with new 6-inch howitzers. We went through some very severe training 
for several months and left for France in November. 

While we were in the trenches in January, 1918, a bunch of us went out one 
night to lay some telephone wire. It was necessary for us to lay the wire at night 
because shells fell continually on that part of the ground in the day time. We 
had four mules hitched to a reel cart and I rode the off-lead one. We went 
lippity-cut all night, stopping only once, and that was to water the mules. Mules 
were used for this work because they are more sure-footed than horses. A mule 
never fell into shell holes or stumbled in the dark. We worked like demons for 
26 straight hours and we laid 47 miles of telephone wire. 

Shortly after reaching France I was made a motor cycle despatch rider for 
our regiment, but as it was necessary for me to be able to handle a horse I was 
sent on the wire-laying trip. 

While I was at Fort Benjamin Harrison there was a little boy that did odd 
jobs for us around the camp, and we adopted him as our mascot. When we 
moved from Fort Benjamin Harrison to Camp Mills he went with us. Then 
when he heard we were going to embark he tried to enlist but he was too young 
and was turned down. He tried every way possible to get permission to go 
with us, but was out of luck and finally was sent back to Indianapolis, Well, 
on the 29th of January, lo and behold, that kid came rolling into camp, wearing 
a broad smile on his face. He walked up to the Captain, saluted, and reported 
for duty. The Captain couldn't be stern under the circumstances — he had to 
smile and I guess he was just about as glad to see that lad as the rest of us were. 

In the spring of 1918 we were shelled so often that I finally lost count of the 
number of times. One day I was tinkering my with my motor cycle about 150 
yards from the dugout. The shells were falling now and then to the right of us, 
but suddenly I heard one coming and knew by the sound that it was going to 
fall close. It was too far to run to the bomb proof because I knew the shell would 
light before I got there. I dropped my wrench and watched the rest of the fel- 
lows scramble for shelter. Four of the boys went head first into the bomb proof, 
another slid into the kitchen and the other, an officer, was in the same shape as 




CHARLES L. PETIT 





UEUKLiE L. TLNKEK 




CHARLIE C. SHELTON 



H. M. SMITH 




HUBERT (OLE 





EEON E. mCKMAN 




WARREN WHITIIAM 



FI.KTCIIEIt VVAI/rZ 



ERNEST LACKLAND IN HOSPITAL BOMBED BY HUNS 129 

I — too far away to get to shelter before the shell would hit. Well, he dived under 
a little bush near the path — more like animal instinct than anything — because 
that little bush wouldn't have kept the rain off him, much less shell fragments. 
After it was all over he got up, brushing the dirt off his clothes, and he sure 
looked foolish. 

One time in April, 1917, the germans had a barrage falling between us and 
our source of supplies, and two other fellows and myself finally decided to cross 
the zone of fire and try to bring back some food. Coming back I had a bucket 
of raw onions and five boxes of hard tack and you ought to have seen me running 
through that barrage. I got a slight nick in my helmet when I laid down for a 
close one, and leaves, dirt and twigs fell in my bucket of onions, but I got them 
to mess. 

Motor cycle dispatch riding was no joke. My work came in after the tele- 
phone lines had been put out of business by shell fire. The roads I had to travel 
were very rough, and I never could kid myself into believing that Heine couldn't 
head me off as I was spinning down the road. I have seen airplanes brought down 
by anti-aircraft guns when they were making 120 miles an hour, so I knew running 
fast wouldn't help me any. 

In May I was carrying a message when the boche opened up on me. My 
bacon can had a hole shot through it, my pack carrier was destroyed and dust 
was blown all over a box of candy that I carried. Another time they ranged me 
on the road. The first shrapnel hit a little ahead and over me. I knew they 
would have my range, so I turned around and went back, and it was a good thing 
I did for the next shell, a high explosive, hit right in the road about 600 feet 
further along, and had I not stopped I would have just about met the shell as 
it exploded. 

While sleeping in my dugout the first of May, 1918, a German shell hit the 
place and sure wrecked it. A hole was torn through a big stack of writing paper 
on a shelf, and other things in the room were torn to pieces but I wasn't even 
touched. 

We were under continuous shell fire during the spring and summer of 1918, 
and in July went to Belleau Wood to assist in the fighting. The artillery held 
50,000 Germans in the woods for three days while other outfits wiped the huns 
out of existence. We had lots of boys killed and wounded but the losses were 
nothing compared to what the Germans suffered. I was wounded in this battle 
and was sent to Camp Hospital No. 13. The first night I was in the hospital it 
was raided by boche airmen. There were twenty-seven planes in the raid and 
the bombs they dropped in an effort to blow up the hospital weighed 800 pounds 
and were between five and six feet long. The windows were blown out in my 
ward but no one was injured. 

After recovering from my wounds I rejoined my company and when the 
armistice was signed marched into Germany with them. The German people 
treated us with a cold indifference, yet they were civil. 



130 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

During the war I walked through four different countries, and did my bit on 
seven different battle fronts. Our outfit was cited for bravery twice by the 
French and twice by General Pershing, and we received honorable mention three 
other times. Of the seven battle fronts the Germans retreated before us on six 
of them. I was in France fourteen months and saw all I expected to see and more. 
There have been miracles happen in the American Expeditionary Forces which 
sound like lies when told to the average man, so I have made no effort to tell of 
the horrible things I have witnessed and have gone through. 



Chapter XXXIX 
FRANK PELSOR IN GREAT BRITISH OFFENSIVE 

I registered for military service while I was employed in Indianapolis, and 
was called on September 22, 1917. Went to Camp Taylor where I remained 
until April 7, 1918, and then left for Camp Logan, Texas, where I was placed in 
the 33rd Division. After a short stay there I was sent to Camp Upton, N. Y., 
and on May 16, 1918, sailed for France. Landed at Brest on May 24th and was 
in camp there for a week. From Brest we went to Emeryville where we were 
placed in with the British. 

While drilling under them we were put in the Huppy area near Abbeville, 
and on June 9th we proceeded to the Eu training area. On June 21st we moved 
into the Amines sector where we occupied a portion of the British trenches. 
The British had been expecting an attack but it didn't materialize, so our work 
on this sector consisted only of patrol duty and trench digging. 

On July 4th we celebrated America's great holiday by making a drive on 
Hamel in conjunction with the Australians. We didn't get any credit for our 
work here because we were a part of the Australian division. Hamel was a small 
town that the Germans had taken only a short time before. They had dug them- 
selves in and I guess they were expecting to stay there. At day break, though, 
we went over the top and about the time mother was frying bacon for breakfast 
at home we had driven the huns out of their trenches and the battle had ended. 
This was my first time in a real fight. I fired my rifle as often as any of the rest 
of the boys but, of course, there was no way of telling whether I killed any huns. 

On August 8, 1918, the great British offensive began, and I was in the line-up. 
The drive continued for several days, the Germans constantly retreating. 

On August 12th we broke the German line at Chipilly Ridge, Gressaure 
Wood. The woods were small and we succeeded in driving the huns out without 
much difficulty. The fighting was very severe at times but we didn't lose many 
men. 

On August 23rd we left the British sector, being transferred to the area of 
the First American Army in the Toul sector. 

On September 5th we started for Verdun where we relieved the 120th 
French Division on the night of September 7th. Ours was the first American 
division to hold a portion of the front line on that historic battlefield. 

On September 15th we made a jump-off at Consenvoye and when the scrap 
was over we had taken prisoners four officers and 149 privates. We had also 
captured two heavy artillery guns, fifty-two machine guns and ten trench mortars. 



132 Switzerland County's Part in the world war 

Following this fight we went back for a four days' rest and then we went to the 
Argonne. 

That's where hell broke loose. We were in the support line of the French. 
On the 28th of September we relieved the 91st Division and the next morning we 
went over the top. We started at six o'clock and got lost in the fog. Nothing 
could be seen anywhere but dense woods, and the underbrush was so heavy a 
fellow could hardly get through it. The huns had the positions and they soaked 
us with gas so that we had to wear our masks most of the time. While working 
our way through the woods a shell struck near us and two of the boys were killed. 
Pieces of shrapnel struck me in both legs and on the back of the left hand. I 
walked back to the first aid station, and from there was sent to a field hospital. 
It seemed like my wounds were poisoned, for in a couple of days my legs and 
hands began swelling and the pain was terrible. I was taken in an ambulance to 
Base Hospital No. 20 and remained there until December 26th when I rejoined 
my company in Luxemburg. 

We left Luxemburg April 25, 1919, for Brest, and sailed from there on May 
11th. Arrived in the States May 20th and went to Camp Mills. Remained 
there five days, then went to Camp Sherman, Ohio, where I was discharged 
May 29th. 



Chapter XL 

GEORGE PLATT SHOT THROUGH BODY WHILE IN THE 

ARGONNE 

People wonder why boys who have been in action overseas had little to say 
after their return home. As the boys returned from abroad they were plied 
with questions about this and that, and almost invariably they grunted out a 
yes or no. 

The truth of the matter is that every soldier who had been through that 
living hell saw so many horrible sights that, if it were possible, he would rid his 
mind of them forever. It isn't pleasant to him to recall to mind the terrible 
bloodshed he has witnessed. And on the other hand the things we have gone 
through are actually so horrible that if we were to tell them half of the people 
would not believe us. 

I am going to tell the story of my experiences just as briefly and as accurately 
as possible. 

I entered the service on May 28, 1918, being sent from Vevay to Camp 
Beauregard, La. We had but a few weeks of training until we entrained for 
Newport News, and from there, on August 5th, went aboard the steamer Kirsk. 

People at home have heard rumors that the American soldiers and sailors 
have no personal use for the British. I want to tell why I, right now, would be 
willing to enlist tomorrow to light England. 

The Steamer Kirsk was a Russian vessel and in the early days of the war 
was captured by Germany. It was later captured from Germany by England, 
and after the United States entered the war England made it over into a troop ship 
to transport United States soldiers across the ocean to help save her from the 
certain disaster which awaited her at the hands of the German army. 

The Kirsk had been transporting negro troops, and I will take a solemn oath 
that the vessel had never been cleaned. When we embarked on her on August 
5th, the smell of that ship was something past description. 

Great peace-loving England charged Uncle Sam S150 a head for transporting 
some 2,000 of us over to fight the German monster off her back. The foul-smelling 
ship was a menace to the lives of each soldier on board. For the first two days of 
our trip I was so seasick that I couldn't eat. On the third day my appetite came 
back to me. I went back to the cook house and while there saw the vessel's 
crew carrying beef out of the hold. 

That meat was so rotten that it dropped off the bones, and yet that was 
what England fed us during the entire voyage. Every mother's son of us prayed 



134 Switzerland County's Part in the World War 

to God that a German submarine might sink that ship before we got across the 
ocean. We had no such luck, however, and for fourteen days we lived in the 
midst of a sickening stench and subsisted on rotten beef. Then we landed at 
Brest, France. 

We w^ere sent to a rest camp, which was one of the famous forts used by the 
great Napoleon. We had come to France to help save the world for democracy, 
and the first week after our arrival the way we saved the world was by acting 
as a labor battalion. We were simply roustabouts, like the negroes one sees on 
the Ohio river steamboats, and our duty for a week was in carrying freight off 
of vessels. 

From Brest we went to Massay. We were the first American troops the in- 
habitants of that city had ever seen, and we were accorded a welcome that will 
live forever in my mind. However, the business men of the place took advantage 
of our presence to pop up prices. The first night we were there soldiers bought 
stuff as cheap as civilians, but the next day prices on nearly everything were 
just about tripled. 

At this place I took influenza and was sick two weeks. Recovering, I re- 
turned to my company. We drilled a week, and at the end of that period our 
commander was notified that the 32nd Division was calling for troops to replace 
their casualties. The commander called for volunteers. Bill Bowen, of Vevay, 
and myself were the first men to step out of the line. 

On September 14th, carrying full equipment, we marched 32 kilometers (a 
distance of about 20 miles), to St. Florent. We were there two days. On the 
second afternoon I heard a couple of soldiers arguing American politics. One of 
the voices sounded familiar and when I got a good look at the speaker I saw it 
was Marion Williamson, of Vevay. I grabbed him and we spent a pleasant hour 
together talking of the folk back home. 

We then entrained in "side-door Pullmans," and went to St. Dizer on the 
Marne River and at that point were placed in the 32nd division. This was on 
Friday, and on Saturday we took the "Frog Automobile Train" for quite a dis- 
tance and finally hiked into reserve in the Argonne Forest. We remained in 

reserve from September 26th to September 29th, then went straight into the line. 
This was on the Verdun front. Prior to our entering the forest there had 
been little activity in this section, but in the month of September Germany 
threw an immense army into the sector. 

The battle of the Argonne Forest, however, had really begun on September 
26th. On the 29th, after we had been sent into the front line, I was made a scout. 
And from that moment hell started for me. 

In three days time we had lost track of all the habits of a life time. We did 
not know what it was to lie down and sleep. We knew no such thing as eating 
a meal three times a day. In fact, if we secured anything at all to eat once in 24 
hours we considered ourselves lucky. And during this period I went three days 
and three nights without a bite of food or a drink of water. 



Geo. Platt Shot Through Body While in argonne 135 

Our outfit had five big tanks. During the 11 days I was in the Argonne 
Forest each of those tanks was picked off by shells and in each instance it was a 
direct hit. 

On the morning when we started that drive fully 200 Allied airplanes were 
in the sky. They were too numerous to count, but a bunch of 20 or 30 of us 
agreed that at the least calculation there were 200 planes. The pilots of those 
planes were regular dare devils. There was never a minute but that they took 
their lives in their hands. 

A battle in the air is the most thrilling sight imaginable. You forget every- 
thing and gape in wonder at the things those birdmen do. They use tracer bullets, 
and each bullet may be seen as it is fired toward an enemy plane. 

A daring hun airman gave battle one day to an American plane with the 
whole American army looking on. The American birdman finally set fire to the 
German plane and the hun crashed several thousand feet to the earth. He fell 
directly in front of our company. We ran to the spot and found a hole fully 30 
feet deep that the motor had made in the ground. 

While we were in the Argonne a soldier came walking past our company one 
day, carrying a pack on his back. One of the hun's explosive shells hit near him 
and he was blown fully fifteen feet in the air. His pack was blown from his should- 
ers and when he came down the pack rolled one way and he rolled another. He 
got up, walked along in front of our Company and said: "That was a damn 
close call, wasn't it.?" 

On the day we replacement troops entered the line the American army began 
advancing. Slowly but surely w^e pushed our way through the forest, the German 
army giving way before us. 

On about the first day of October near noon three of our observation balloons 
were floating about 2,000 feet in the air. Suddenly I heard one of the soldiers 
holler, "Look there!" He pointed upwards. Everybody looked and there, 
swooping down out of the sky, was a German airplane. At the same instant the 
Intelligence officers in the balloons jumped for safety and came to earth hanging 
on parachutes. In less than a minute and a half from the time the plane was 
sighted the German had destroyed two of the balloons and had darted back to 
his lines. As the big bags blazed up and collapsed. Bill Bowen, who was standing 

beside me, shook his fist at the departing airman and said: "That 

Boche ." 

That night I was detailed to do scout duty between the lines. I started at 
midnight, crawling on my hands and knees. I completed my mission and began 
crawling back to the American line. A twig under my knee snapped. I flattened 
myself to the earth, and almost instantly a hail of bullets from a German machine 
gun sniper began plowing up the dirt and leaves all around me. Cautiously I 
began crawling away from the spot where I had broken the twig. The machine 
gunner kept up his fire. And then in the darkness I placed my hand squarely 
on the decayed face of a dead body. Never in my life has such a feeling swept 



136 Switzerland County's Part in the World war 

over me as did at that moment. I was filled with terror, and without thought of 
safety I arose to my feet and ran through the woods. 

From the moment I left V'evay Bill Bowen and I had been chums and when 
I was not on scout duty he and I were always together. On Friday, October 
4th, if I remember rightly, we had been advancing through the woods when one 
of the worst barrages I have ever seen was sent over by the germans. Shells 
fell all about us and we instantly sought shelter. 

Now, the safest place on earth during a barrage is up near a bank. There 
was a bank right beside us and a score or more of us sat dov/n along the slope 
to wait until the barrage had ceased. I was sitting near the bottom of the bank 
and Bill Bowen was seated on the ground about ten feet above me. A high ex- 
plosive shell landed right in our midst, and the explosion knocked all of us flat 
on the earth. 

We had been trained to act in just such an emergency. Each man who was 
able must grab the nearest wounded soldier and get him to the first aid. As I 
arose to my feet after the shell had exploded I saw many of my comrades stretched 
out on the ground. I grabbed the nearest wounded man and started back with 
him. I have a vivid recollection of Bill Bowen lying on the ground and another 
soldier picking him up. I found out later, however, that nine men had been 
wounded by that shell but not one of them was killed. 

That night five of us were detailed for scout duty between the lines. We 
left the American line at midnight crawling on our hands and knees. Until the 
first gray streaks of dawn were showing through the trees we scouted through 
the woods obtaining what information we could, and then started back to our 
line. About five o'clock that morning we came on to a German machine gun nest 
of six guns, with a crew of three men to each gun. The nest was in a depression 
in the ground and we were above it. 

Silently we threw our Springfields to our shoulders. Each of us singled out 
a hun and simultaneously we pulled the triggers. Five German soldiers fell 
dead and at the same instant the remaining thirteen threw up their hands. We 
had no orders to take prisoners and, anyhow, we didn't have enough food for 
ourselves, let alone feeding a bunch of prisoners, so as rapidly as we could pull 
trigger we shot down the others, killing all sixteen of them. We destroyed the 
guns and again started toward our line. 

By that time we realized we were lost. Daylight was about to break forth. 
We came to a small dugout and inside of it found a German captain. A jug of 
whiskey sat on the floor beside him and he was too drunk to realize what was 
happening. We killed him and again went ahead. In a few minutes we came to 
another dugout. One of our boys hollered, "Are there any Americans down 
there?" He got no answer. He threw a hand grenade down the dugout and 
German soldiers began running out of the entrance. As fast as they came out 
we shot them down. 

Daylight was now upon us. We crawled to the edge of the woods and hid 
in the underbrush to await the passing of the day and the coming of the night. 




CLAIR SCOTT 






^\«'.^, ^~- 



LUCIAX K.MKUSON 




HUBERT HAMILTON 



WARREN PETERS 



Geo. Platt Shot Through Body While in Argonne 137 

During the day it dawned upon us that the part of the woods we were lying 
in was filled with German soldiers in groups here and there. In the afternoon a 
German airplane flew directly over our heads and all five of us stepped out from 
our place of concealment in plain view of him. The pilot turned his machine and 
flew rapidly toward the German line. We felt in our bones that the airman, 
seeing us American soldiers, had formed the conclusion that a part of the Ameri- 
can army had moved up rapidly and was occupying that section of the woods. 
And we undoubtedly guessed right, for in less than five minutes the German ar- 
tillery began dropping shells. Before the mistake was discovered and the barrage 
stopped I honestly believe that the German artillery had killed and wounded a 
thousand of their own men. 

When darkness had again settled down we crawled out of our hiding place 
and began searching for the American line. All night long we crawled through 
the woods and then just before day break we heard an American sentry. It was 
a doughboy from our own company. 

We made our report and were ordered to again leave our line in an eff^ort 
to kill a German machine gun sniper who had been picking oflt our men. This 
was on Sunday morning, October 6th. 

The five of us crawled for quite a distance through the underbrush and finally 
came to a small open spot. It was impossible to go around it, and if our mission 
was to prove successful there was nothing for us to do except to arise to our feet 
and run across that open spot. 

At the opposite side of the opening was a small ravine. Within ten feet of 
the bank of that ravine was a shell hole. By the aid of a powerful field glass I 
could locate the spot where the sniper was concealed but we couldn't get to him. 
We discussed the situation in whispers and finally agreed that there was nothing 
to do except to arise to our feet and dash suddenly across the opening. However, 
we also agreed that there was ho sense in all five of us risking our lives when two 
could do the work just as well, so three of the boys went back. 

The other fellow and I jumped up and began running for the ravine. Be- 
fore we had run five yards that machine gunner was pumping bullets at us. At 
the shell hole my comrade fell. The next second a bullet struck me in the right 
side and I fell headlong into the ravine. The bullet had passed diagonally through 
my body coming out of my back on the left side. Blood was flowing freely and 
I knew that unless I received medical attention I would die. I wondered if my 
comrade had been killed. The thought struck me that if he had only been 
wounded, and I could do something to draw the sniper's fire, he might roll over 
the top of the bank and get with me. 

A stick was lying on the ground beside me. I picked it up and pushed it 
over the top of the bank. That machine gunner was watching for me and began 
pouring a steady stream of bullets at the stick. I did this twice more and on 
the last time, while the sniper was shooting at the stick my comrade came rolling 
over the edge of the bank. He had not been hit, and with the bank serving as a 



138 SWITZERLAND COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR 

protection we crawled through the ravine, my comrade in the lead breaking a 
way through the underbrush. 

We crawled for perhaps a kilometer before we were entirely out of the sniper's 
sight and then arose to our feet. Supported by my comrade we staggered along 
hunting for a first aid. My comrade's assistance was all that kept me on my feet. 
After walking about two kilometers we saw four litter carriers about 100 yards 
in front of us. They had a wounded soldier on a litter and were taking him to 
the first aid. We followed as best we could, keeping them constantly in sight. 

And right then is when the most horrible thing I ever saw occurred right 
before my eyes. 

A high explosive shell came suddenly from nowhere and dropped squarely 
on the man lying on that litter, and quicker than you could snap your fingers 
the wounded soldier, the litter and the four litter carriers were blown to atoms. 
We, ourselves, were splattered with their blood and flesh. 

Heart-sick at the sight, for a time we were unable to go on. When we re- 
sumed our journey we had gone but a short distance when we came upon some 
of our soldiers. They stripped me to my waist and put an immense bandage 
around my body from my hips to my armpits. I then walked on to the first 
aid, had my wounds dressed there and went on back to the field hospital. That 
same night I was sent to the town of Florey, where I was given food and rested 
through the night. The next day I was taken to Neuf Chateau, which is Base 
Hospital No. 116. I remained there several weeks and was removed to Chateau 
Roux. Remained there a few weeks and was taken to Blois. I was then placed 
in a casual company and ordered returned to the States. I left Blois November 
27th for Brest and sailed from Brest on December 27th. I landed in New York 
January 5, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Sherman, Ohio, January 22nd. 



Chapter XLI 
CLIFFORD THIEBAUD FIGHTS WITH RAINBOW DIVISION 

I entered the Second Engineer Officers Training Camp at Fort Leavenworth, 
Kas., September 2, 1917. Completed the course there November 30, 1917. 

As First Lieutenant I was then sent to Camp Grant, 111., in which place I 
remained until the early part of January, 1918, when I received orders to join the 
American Expeditionary Forces for extended field service. 

Crossed over via New York, Liverpool, South Hampton and LaHavre. Was 
in First Corps Training School at Gondrecourt, France, through February and 
March, and then was assigned to the 117th Engineers, (Rainbow Division), 
42nd Division, in which regiment I served until September 1st, when I was 
promoted to Captain and sent back to the United States to bring over new 
troops. 

When I was with the Rainbow Division we were on the Lorraine front until 
June 15th and then went over to the Champagne sector, where we remained 
until July 20, 1918. During this time we withstood the brunt of the last German 
drive which began July 14, 1918. We were then taken from this sector and sent 
into the Chateau-Thierry sector. Here we helped to drive the boche back from 
Chateau-Thierry to the River Vesle at the town of Fismes. We were then re- 
lieved by the 77th Division and moved back to Bourmont for a ten days' rest. 
We then received orders to go into the Toul sector for the St. Mihiel drive, and 
we were just pulling up into that seotor when I received my orders to return to 
the States. 

I reported at Camp Hum.phreys, Va., September 19, 1918, and was assigned 
as Captain of Co. E, 218th Engineers. After six weeks training we moved to 
Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, to join our Division then at Camp Travis, 
and were billed to go to France December 1, 1918. Then the armistice was signed 
and it was all off. I was discharged in January, 1919. 



Chapter XLII 

MARION WILLIAMSON FIGHTS SIXTY HOURS WITHOUT 

WATER 

I left Vevay in May, 1918, in the same outfit with George Piatt and William 
Bowen. Following a short training period at Camp Taylor and Camp Beaure- 
gard, Ala., I sailed for France on August 6th and arrived there after a twelve 
days voyage on August 18th. 

Probably the least said about that voyage the better. I understand that 
other soldiers have told their experiences and that many persons have not be- 
lieved the stories. It doesn't seem possible that fighting men would be fed on 
rotten beef, but that's what we got while we were on board that ship. 

We had a Lieutenant with us who was a splendid fellow and who appreci- 
ated the fact that the privates were just as good a class of fellows as the officers. 
After we had tried to eat that rotten meat for two days, some of the boys com- 
plained to this Lieutenant. He replied that the meat was all right, but to please 
the boys, he told them to bring a private's mess pan of food the next day. The 
Lieutenant took one bite of that rotten stuff, spat it out and then he started some- 
thing. They threw 850 pounds of rotten meat overboard immediately, and the 
food during the remainder of the trip was fairly good. 

After arriving in France we trained for a few weeks and in the latter part of 
September started for the Argonne Forest. We went into reserve just behind the 
front lines on September 23rd, and from that moment on for 21 days we were 
constantly under fire. While in reserve our death rate was nearly as heavy as 
it was later when we went to the front. German explosive shells fell everywhere, 
and soldiers were killed all about us. While we were marching into the Argonne 
a boche airman swooped suddenly down upon us, and that, was the first time I 
fired my rifle at a man. That boche was the gamest man I ever saw. He would 
fly high into the air and then suddenly swoop down upon us dropping bombs, and 
he would come so close that the doughboys peppered away at him with their 
rifles. His tactics were certain to result in death as the big guns begun firing at 
him every time he came within range, and finally one of the guns scored a direct 
hit and the airman dropped. 

No man on earth could give a correct description of the Argonne Forest as 
it was when we entered it. The Germans had been holding the forest for several 
years, and had barbed wire interlaced through the underbrush and trees so that 
advances could be made only step by step. There could be no sudden rushes, 
and while the Yanks were slowly moving forward, cutting their way through the 
wire entanglements, the huns picked them off by the hundreds. Dead bodies 
were everywhere. A person couldn't have walked in a straight line thirty yards 
without stepping over a body, and the poor devils couldn't be buried. 



Marion Williamson Fights go Hours Without Water ui 

When we first went over the top I really couldn't realize what it meant for 
a while, but ten minutes after we went over my buddie was shot down by my 
side, and then I knew. I had buddied with him only a few weeks, but in the 
army friendships which last a life time are rapidly formed. Filled with grief I 
gave one hurried glance at his lifeless body and swept on into the woods with 
the rest of the outfit. 

After we had been fighting for several days, we attacked a part of the German 
army at the bottom of a hill. For five hours we fired our rifles continuously and 
the barrels became so hot we could barely hold them in our hands. We ran 
short of ammunition, but the boches didn't find it out. We steadily drove them 
up the hill and then started them down the other side. Another outfit flanked 
around the hill and caught the huns as they reached the bottom. None of them 
escaped. What were not killed held up their hands and surrendered. During 
the 21 days I spent in the Argonne, water was very scarce and I went for 60 hours 
without a drop of liquid running down my throat. At the end of that period I 
got some cold coffee. 

One night while we were lying asleep we were gassed and the men on watch 
thought the gas was too slight to give an alarm. Consequently a good many of 
us were badly affected. The gas settled in my throat, however, and did not affect 
my lungs, so that it was not necessary at that time for me to go to the hospital. 

Strange things happen while a battle is in progress and many of them, of 
course, are unbelievable. I saw a Yank charging through the woods one day 
when his gas mask was shot off his face. He didn't receive the slightest scratch 
and kept right on fighting. 

I saw another man lying on his belly behind a slight knoll. The pack on 
his back was slightly above the knoll and fully fifty bullets passed through that 
pack and the man was uninjured. 

After 21 days fighting we were relieved. When we came back from the front 
only 48 men remained out of our original company of 250. I was sent to a hospital 
immediately after we returned from the front, in a few weeks placed in a casual 
company, and then returned to the States. I was discharged at Camp Sherman, 
Ohio, April 9, 1919. 



1776-1919 

The descendants of the compatriots of Washington and John Paul Jones 
fought once again side by side with the descendants of the compatriots of La- 
fayette and Rochambeau. The time and opportunity came for a nation to pay 
a great debt of gratitude for service rendered in great national need and America 
paid France the debt she long has so justly owed. 

In the Revolutionary War for the freedom of America, the French fought on 
American soil under the command of an American. In the war for the freedom 
of France and for the preservation of liberty to America, and, indeed, to all the 
world, Americans fought on French soil under the supreme command of a French- 
man. The honors are even and the honors are great. 

No true American who knows the history of his country but thrills when he 
thinks of the feats of the American army in France. The invincible Americans 
turned the tide of war; they brought to France and her Allies a victory for liberty 
such as France assisted us to win, and repaid with interest a debt to liberty and 
to France long owing and honorably acknowledged. 



THE END 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
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